TALKING POINTS
Everett learned its lesson from the previous night. The Tips went into the third period leading Seattle 2-0 on Friday, but gave up a goal on the first shift of the third, allowed Seattle to gain momentum, then lost 3-2 in overtime. Tonight Everett again went into the third period leading 2-0, but this time they made sure there was no third-period drama, scoring early in the third and making the rest of the period academic. Edmonton didn’t find the net until getting a consolation power-play goal with just 6.6 seconds remaining. That power-play goal ended Everett’s string of successful penalty kills at 29.
Edmonton outshot Everett 36-22, but that total is misleading. The Oil Kings didn’t have many quality scoring chances, and many of Everett’s best scoring chances ended up going wide.
The victory gave Everett 11 points out of a possible 12 from its past six games. As a result, the Tips zoomed from dead last in the Western Conference to five points clear in seventh in the space of just nine days. It was vital that Everett got something from this stretch of six games, as the schedule from here to the end of the season gets pretty hairy (11 of 18 on the road, 10 games against Portland, Spokane and Tri-City). Not only did the Tips get something, they were nearly perfect.
TURNING POINT
After Friday night’s debacle, the Tips needed to show they could hold on to a 2-0 lead in the third. They made sure that happened at 3:56 when Josh Winquist made a nice play, squeezing past Edmonton defenseman Marek Hrbas along the boards and setting up Markus McCrea to provide the dagger.
HIT OF THE DAY
Early in the second period McCrea put a big shoulder charge into an Oil Kings defenseman (didn’t see who) in the corner, prompting Edmonton’s Rhett Rachinski to challenge McCrea to a fight.
THREE STARS
First star: Kent Simpson, Everett. 35 saves, he stopped 194 of 203 (.956 save percentage) playing every minute of this six-game upswing.
Second star: Winquist. Two assists, he was Everett’s most-creative player tonight.
Third star: Cody Fowlie, Everett. One goal, continues to show his progress as a player.
The Herald’s honorable mention: McCrea. Scored the all-important third goal, made the night’s biggest hit.
BOX SCORE
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