REFLECTIONS: Silvertips fall to Americans in overtime in finale
Published 1:30 am Sunday, March 19, 2017
The Game
For the second consecutive week the Everett Silvertips had a Sunday they’ll probably want to forget. The Tips blew a pair of two-goal leads including one such advantage in the final three minutes when Tri-City twice scored with the extra attacker and the Tips eventually lost 6-5 in overtime.
But this time it meant nothing as the Tips had already sewn up the U.S. Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference, and already knew they were playing the Victoria Royals when the playoffs begin Friday.
So they rested their entire starting lineup. Goalie Carter Hart, defensemen Noah Juulsen and Lucas Skrumeda, and forwards Dominic Zwerger, Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov all got the night off. And yet the Tips scored five times without those players in the lineup. Brandson Hein had a career night with two goals and an assist while Connor Dewar, Brian King and Riley Sutter all tallied goals.
By gettting to overtime the Tips finished with 100 standings points. It’s just the second time in franchise history they’ve topped the century mark.
Of more concern is the fact both Sutter and Devon Skoleski left the game following big hits and did not return.
The Turning Point
The Americans pulled goalie Rylan Parenteau with more than two minutes to play and the Americans scored twice to force overtime.
Three Stars
*Once again the stars in this instance go to the outgoing overagers. So I picked my own.
1. Tri-City F Jordan Topping: The winger had a hat trick including the game-winner and added an assist.
2. Tri-City D Dylan Coghlan: The blueliner had the game-tying goal and added two assists.
3. Everett F Brandson Hein: The Manitoba native had a career game with two goals and an assist.
BONUS: Playoff match-ups
Western Conference
U.S. Division
No. 1 Everett vs. No. 4(8) Victoria
No. 2 Seattle vs. No. 3 Tri-City
B.C. Division
No. 1 Prince George vs. No. 4(7) Portland
No. 2 Kelowna vs. No. 3 Kamloops
Eastern Conference
East Division
No. 1 Regina vs. No. 4(8) Calgary
No. 2 Moose Jaw vs. No. 3 Swift Current
Central Division
No. 1 Medicine Hat vs. No. 4(7) Brandon
No. 2 Lethbridge vs. No. 3 Red Deer
