It was a common postgame theme from Everett Silvertips coach Dennis Williams and co-captains Matt Fonteyne and Kevin Davis: the Tips did not compete for the full 60 minutes.
TIPS TV / Postgame with Coach, Davis, Fonteyne #BelieveInGreen pic.twitter.com/gYdXXdDbpe
— Silvertip Country is #HumboldtStrong (@WHLsilvertips) April 22, 2018
Everett came out strong and led 2-1 with a 20-9 shot advantage after the first period, but Tri-City responded by evening the game as the Americans controlled the second. Given the similarities to Game 1, the Tips should feel somewhat fortunate to be heading to Kennewick with the series tied 1-1 after being outplayed for significant portions of both games this weekend.
“The second period again, both nights in a row were very poor on our part and this time of year you can’t afford to have an off period,” Williams said. “So (our) consistency needs to be much better.”
The Tips regrouped to start the third, but letting Tri-City hang around that long spelled doom. And this time it was Everett on the short end of a late-game goal flurry.
The Americans scored the go-ahead goal at 10:19 in third. Everett answered on the ensuing shift at 11:25 with its only even-strength goal of the night. But Tri-City answered right back on the next shift for the game-winner at 12:29.
🎥 WHL Highlight of the Night 🎥
April 21, 2018Maxwell James of the @TCAmericans#WHLHoN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jOjPW5VlSU
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 22, 2018
“We just weren’t ready,” Williams said. “Those shifts after goals are so important and we need to do a better job of getting some consistency of shifts.”
With so much focus on Tri-City’s top two lines coming into the series, it was the Americans’ third line that did in the Silvertips. Parker AuCoin had a goal and two assists while linemate Maxwell James scored the game-winner for Tri-City.
“Any time you’re going to have any kind of success and a deep run in the playoffs you have to have guys step up,” Tri-City head coach Mike Williamson said. “We‘ve got a lot of depth and they’ve been a huge part of our team from day one, playing well at both ends of the ice.”
The Tips mixed up the lines a bit in the third with Fonteyne joining Connor Dewar and Garrett Pilon, while Fonteyne’s normal linemates, Patrick Bajkov and Sean Richards, skated with Riley Sutter.
Williams also mixed up the lines Friday during Everett’s second-period lull before returning to the usual groupings for the third.
The loss means Everett is guaranteed a return home for Game 5. But first come Games 3 and 4 in Kennewick on Monday and Thursday.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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