EVERETT — Everett Silvertips defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer slid on his back through the crease and into the net as Vancouver goaltender Ryan Kubic knocked away what would have been Dwyer’s second goal of the game.
As Dwyer scrambled back to his feet he turned to face Kubic, his former teammate from their midget hockey days back home in Winnipeg.
“I almost got two on you Kubes,” Dwyer said.
One goal was all the Silvertips needed from Dwyer Saturday night as his second-period one-timer stood up as the game-winner, and the Tips defeated the Vancouver Giants 3-1 before 4,414 fans Saturday night at Xfinity Arena.
It was the first career WHL goal for Dwyer, who has appeared in nine games this season and 11 in his WHL career.
“I got a few (goals) in the preseason, but nothing compares to scoring in front of the hometown fans,” Dwyer said. “It was really nice to finally bury one after a couple assists in the last couple games and (to) finally get one in the back of the net.”
Everett (15-9-0-2, 32 points) also received a goal and an assist each from Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov, as well as a 21-save effort from goaltender Carter Hart to snap a two-game losing streak.
The Tips remained in third place in the U.S. Division standings, but moved within a point of second-place Spokane.
“There was a lot of confidence in the room,” Hart said. “I think having two losses in a row, there was a little bit of fire going on in the room and it was sparking everyone.”
While the Giants (8-17-2-2, 22 points) have struggled record-wise in their first season under WHL coaching legend Lorne Molleken, Vancouver possesses plenty of talent. The Giants have improved of late and entered Saturday’s game with three consecutive shutout victories.
“They’ve got some high draft picks and guys that are going to get drafted high,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said. “They can score some goals and I thought they made some really nice plays tonight. I thought if Carter wasn’t good they could have easily scored five or six goals again tonight.”
The Giants scored just once, but the goal cut Everett’s two-score lead in half 43 seconds into the third. NHL prospect Tyler Benson redirected a pass from Trevor Cox past Hart on the power play for Vancouver’s only goal.
Bajkov put the game out of reach with his fifth goal of the season at 17:38 when Fonteyne’s shot from the left circle bounced off Kubic right to Bajkov.
“It was definitely huge to turn the page there and get back in the win column,” Hart said. “I thought we played well (Friday) night as well and it carried over. It was a solid team effort tonight, and the little bounces were going our tonight.”
Coming in off a physical 3-0 home defeat to Prince George Friday, Everett withstood a strong start from the Giants to take a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.
Graham Millar centered the puck to Bajkov, whose shot bounced out to the right side of the crease. Fonteyne corralled it, spun to his right and flicked a wrister past
Kubic for the lead at 9:57. It was the first goal allowed by Kubic in more than 200 minutes.
“Eventually we got untracked,” Constantine said. “It was really important to score first. Otherwise you lose a couple and you get scored on first, and your confidence gets hit a little bit.”
Dwyer used teammate Brandon Ralph’s goalie screen as Dwyer’s slap shot from the point gave the Tips a 2-0 advantage at 7:44 in the second period.
Vancouver’s best scoring chance in the second period came when Benson took advantage of an Everett miscue and turned it into a breakaway at 14:30 in the second. But Hart’s leg save kept the Giants scoreless.
Everett plays host to Portland Wednesday at 7 at Xfinity Arena.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
Silvertips 3, Giants 1
Vancouver 0 0 1 — 1
Everett 1 1 1 — 3
1st Period—1, Everett, Fonteyne 8 (Bajkov, Millar), 9:57. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period—2, Everett, Dwyer 1 (Gerth, Pfeifer), 7:44. Penalties—Fonteyne Evt (cross checking), 8:26; Ronning Van (too many men), 9:47; Benson Van (roughing), 12:23; Thrower Van (roughing), 12:23; Leedahl Evt (roughing), 12:23; Stadnyk Evt (high sticking), 19:56.
3rd Period-3, Vancouver, Benson 6 (Cox, Barberis), 0:43 (PP). 4, Everett, Bajkov 5 (Fonteyne), 17:38. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (delay of game), 19:37.
Shots on Goal-Vancouver 9-7-6-22. Everett 9-6-6-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Vancouver 1/3; Everett 0/2.
Goalies—Vancouver, Kubic 3-8-1-0 (21 shots-18 saves). Everett, Hart 15-8-0-2 (22 shots-21 saves).
A-4,414
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