Everett 4, Portland 3 (SO)
Published 10:49 pm Friday, November 14, 2014
TALKING POINTS
This wasn’t Everett’s best performance of the season. However, the Tips found a way to overcome a 3-1 deficit and eventually win in a shootout.
Portland had more of the possession and outchanced Everett — the shots finished 32-25 in favor of the Winterhawks — and there were a lot of shifts were the Tips were in full damage-control mode. The exception was when the line of Ivan Nikolishin, Brayden Low and Carson Stadnyk was on the ice. That trio did all of the damage offensively for Everett as it created all three of the Tips’ goals, and those three were dangerous pretty much every time they went on the ice.
Everett won the shootout 2-0 as it needed just four attempts — both Nikolishin and Graham Millar converted for Everett, while Tips goaltender Carter Hart denied both Dominic Turgeon and Nicolas Petan. The Tips have had some lean years when it comes to shootouts, so it’s been a while since I can remember Everett winning one in routine fashion. The Tips are now 4-0-1-0 in five games against the four-time defending Western Conference-champion Winterhawks.
There was a noticeable absence of Nikita Scherbak early in the game for Everett. The star winger was on the ice when Portland scored 1:11 into the game, and he didn’t see the ice again until there was about 6:15 remaining in the period. Part of that was because the Tips had to kill a couple penalties and he’s not a part of Everett’s penalty kill, but there were also a couple five-on-five shifts where he didn’t go out with his regular linemates, and he was on the bench the entire time. I had an early deadline tonight and wasn’t able to get any interviews, so I can’t tell you exactly why he sat for that extended period, but he took a regular shift the rest of the way.
TURNING POINT
Early in the third period with the score tied 3-3, Portland star winger Oliver Bjorkstrand found himself with a breakaway. However, Hart made the save, keeping the score tied and giving Everett a chance to win in the shootout.
THREE STARS
First star: Nikolishin. One goal and two assists, he conducted the orchestra tonight.
Second star: Bjorkstrand. One assist, you hold your breath when he has the puck.
Third star: Low. One goal and one assist, made himself a nuisance in front of the Portland goal all night.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Paul Bittner, Portland. One goal, the big winger is impossible to knock off the puck.
BOX SCORE
