PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — It was a night of firsts for the Everett Silvertips.
Dominik Bittner and Ryan Chynoweth each scored his first Western Hockey League goal, and the Tips defeated the Prince George Cougars 5-2 Friday night in the first of key back-to-back games in Prince George.
Bittner, who had gone 45 games without a goal, scored twice during the first period. Chynoweth, who had played 44 scoreless games, put one home in the second period.
Josh Birkholz also scored, and Kohl Bauml added a late empty-net tally as Everett (11-30-1-8) pulled within one point of Prince George (15-30-0-2) for ninth place in the Western Conference. The Tips remained six points behind Victoria for the eighth and final playoff position.
Kent Simpson made 34 saves in goal for Everett, including several big stops late in the game with the Tips leading 4-2.
Spencer Asuchak scored both goals for the Cougars. Drew Owsley stopped 32 shots in net for Prince George.
The game didn’t start well for Everett. The Tips received an early power play, but it backfired as the Cougars opened the scoring while short-handed. Asuchak got behind the defense and poked the puck under Simpson as Asuchak was being hauled down, giving Prince George a 1-0 lead 3 minutes, 3 seconds in.
But Bittner answered for Everett. He scored his first at 5:29 when his wrister from the point found its way through traffic and past Owsley. Then, at 18:25, Bittner took advantage of a Prince George turnover, cutting in from the point and wristing a shot into the top corner to make it 2-1.
The Tips then built their lead in the second period. Birkholz made it 3-1 at 4:23, taking the puck off a faceoff win and weaving through the defense before putting the puck into the top of the net.
Then it was Chynoweth’s turn to get his first WHL goal. Jari Erricson angled toward the goal and fed the puck out front, where Chynoweth was able to tap it in to make it 4-1.
Prince George got back within two 54 seconds into the third, Asuchak scoring after a faceoff win. But the Tips put it away when Bauml scored from the neutral zone into the empty net with 1:46 remaining.
Silvertips 5, Cougars 2
Everett221—5
Prince George101—2
First Period—1, Prince George, Asuchak 11 (Tkatch), 3:03 (sh). 2, Everett, Bittner 1 (Bauml), 5:29. 3, Everett, Bittner 2, 18:25. Penalties—Gibb, Prince George (checking from behind), 1:46; Fowlie, Everett (tripping), 8:45.
Second Period—4, Everett, Birkholz 22 (Petryk), 4:23. 5, Everett, Chynoweth 1 (Erricson, Fowlie), 18:35. Penalties—Lofthouse, Everett (interference), 8:35; Morden, Everett (roughing-fighting), 16:16; J. Forsberg, Prince George (tripping), 16:16; Springer, Prince George (fighting), 16:16; Fontaine, Prince George (checking from behind), 19:21.
Third Period—6, Prince George, Asuchak 12 (Tkatch), 0:54. 7, Everett, Bauml 13 (Winquist, Harrison), 18:14 (en). Penalties—Murray, Everett (hooking), 0:51; Birkholz, Everett (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:23; Asuchak, Prince George (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:23; Daae, Prince George (goaltender interference), 19:32.
Shots on goal—Everett 9-15-13—37. Prince George 10-10-16—36. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 3. Prince George 0 of 3.
Goalies—Everett, Simpson 9-24-1-5 (36 shots, 34 saves). Prince George, Owsley 14-25-0-1 (36 shots, 32 saves).
A—1,971.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
