Chilliwack 4, Everett 3 (OT)

TALKING POINTS

I thought the Tips played a pretty good game tonight, outshooting Chilliwack 45-26 and coming from behind three times to tie it and at least earn a point. But Chilliwack had the cutting edge in front of goal and the Tips didn’t, and that was enough for the Bruins to come away with the victory.

The winning goal was inevitably scored by Ryan Howse, the league’s leading goal scorer. The Tips did a good job keeping Howse quiet all night. But 1:22 into OT the Bruins took advantage of an Everett misplay to break three-on-two. Kevin Sundher found Howse as the trailer, and Howse’s shot took a deflection off a defender’s stick and into the corner. I had the feeling it was over as soon as the puck was headed Howse’s way, but the manner in which the puck ended up in the net was unfortunate for the Tips.

Everett’s Tyler Maxwell was unable to score a goal tonight, though he fanned on a glorious chance on the power play with the net open. That means he finished tied for the franchise record for consecutive games with a goal at six.

Speaking of the power play, Tips finished 0-for-6 on the and are now have just one goal in their last 30 opportunities. But with one glaring exception (see below) Everett at least created scoring chances on the power play tonight.

TURNING POINT

Everett tied it up with 2:53 remaining on Brennan Yadlowski’s goal, and the Tips were gifted a power play with 50.8 seconds remaining in regulation. Everett ended up with 1:10 of four-on-three, a greater threat than five-on-four, to start overtime. But the Tips squandered the opportunity, not even getting set up in the offensive zone, and moments later the game was over.

HIT OF THE DAY

Midway through the second period Everett’s Alex Theriau and Chilliwack’s Blair Wentworth headed towards one another with speed and had a mighty collision, sending both players flying.

THREE STARS

First star: Lucas Gore, Chilliwack. 42 saves, very solid, but not required to do anything spectacular.

Second star: Landon Ferraro, Everett. One goal, battled hard.

Third star: Cody Fowlie, Everett. One goal, his first in the WHL, and played his strongest game as a Tip.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Brandon Manning, Chilliwack. One goal and one assist, he was absolutely immense. Gore was worthy of his first star, but for me Manning was the real key for the Bruins.

BOX SCORE

Chilliwack 4, Everett 3 (OT)