TALKING POINTS
Welcome to the rare away game postgame wrapup! Usually when I cover away games I want to get on the road as quickly as possible since I have a ways to drive home. But since today was a 5:05 p.m. Sunday start I figured I had time to hammer one of these out.
Frankly, I’m not sure what to do. I’m just not used to reporting about Everett road victories against Seattle. Going into the game Everett was 4-21-0-1 with three ties all time at Seattle, and the Tips hadn’t won on the road against the T-birds in more than two years. But Shane Harper pulled off some late magic, scoring the tying goal with 3:31 remaining in regulation and the only goal in the shootout. As happy as the Tips were, I think the traveling Everett fans sitting in front of me even happier.
It was a gutsy effort from a depleted lineup playing its fourth game in five nights. And no one was gutsier than left wing Daniel Bartek, who returned to the lineup a mere 11 days after suffering a broken hand. The hand’s still broken, but Bartek wore a splint and is playing through the pain. I sure didn’t seen any sign of it affecting his play.
The Tips also played a solid game, outshooting an opponent (31-30) for the first time in who knows how long. Everett limited Seattle’s scoring chances — most of them came while short-handed — and stuck with it after spurning many chances in the first two periods.
TURNING POINT
With the game winding down and the Tips trailing 1-0, Seattle’s Sena Acolatse took an unnecessary roughing penalty, then a minute later Charles Wells fired the puck over the glass for a delay of game call. Although the Tips didn’t score during the five-on-three, Harper made a beautiful toe drag around a defender and forced the puck past Seattle goaltender Calvin Pickard during the second five-on-four to tie it.
HIT OF THE DAY
Seattle’s Thomas Hickey is making a habit of hip tossing Everett players into the air. Late last season he did it to Kyle Beach, tonight he caught Harper late in the second period.
THREE STARS
First star: Harper. He was the difference maker tonight.
Second star: Pickard. He made some great saves among his 30 to keep the Tips at bay.
Third star: Prab Rai, Seattle. Scored Seattle’s goal, and was dangerous on the penalty kill.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Thomas Heemskerk, Everett. Rock solid in goal for the Tips with 29 saves.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett was in danger of dressing just 18 players tonight, as call-up forward D.Jay McGrath returned home and defenseman Mike Alexander joined the five other players on Everett’s injury list. However, both Alexander (sprained ankle) and Bartek tested themselves during the pregame warmup and decided to give it a go. Alexander only made it through two periods and Drew McDermott, who’s been playing as a center through the injury crisis, returned to defense. Forwards Tyler Maxwell (knee), Dale Hunt (concussion) and Paul Van de Velde (shoulder) and defenseman Trevor Bauer (concussion) remained sidelined.
Seattle also had a gametime decision as defenseman Jeremy Schappert was questionable with the flu, but he played. Defenseman Mitch Berg, Saskatoon’s first-round pick in 2007 who was subsequently dropped and picked up by Seattle, was on hand as insurance. Center Lindsay Nielsen (ankle) and defenseman Steve Chaffin (shoulder) are injured and forward Chance Lund was a healthy scratch.
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