TALKING POINTS
Everett’s six-game losing streak is over thanks to a solid all-around effort. The Tips not only had the rare game where they outshot an opponent, they also held the Cougars to just 23 shots total, which was less than a half a game’s worth during the eastern road trip. When Everett was clinging to a one-goal lead in the third period, the Tips did a good job of stifling the Cougars and preventing any clear-cut scoring chances.
And the Tips did it with their inexperienced kids doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Tyler Maxwell has been banished, Ryan Murray is hurt, Josh Birkholz left the game in the second period because of injury, and Jesse Mychan was booted in the second for a charging major. At the end of the game Everett was playing with just one overager, three 19-year-olds, three players with more than one year of WHL experience, and 10 rookies. Even the goalie was green as 16-year-old Austin Lotz turned in an excellent performance for his first career WHL win.
During the eastern road trip the Tips had a game in Lethbridge where they were in control, leading 3-0 when they took a five-minute major penalty that turned the game and eventually led to an Everett loss. Everett flipped that equation tonight as a major taken by Prince George’s Charles Inglis led to two Everett goals to send the Tips on their way.
There’s going to be a lot of carnage that results from this one. Mychan and Inglis both took charging majors and will be hearing from the league offices. Both are repeat offenders, so that will lengthen the suspensions. In Inglis’ case, it could be a long one as he’s already drawn a 10-game suspension this season, and his hit looked to me pretty similar to the one that recently drew a 20-game suspension in the OHL.
Both teams also had injuries. Birkholz was the victim of Inglis’ hit, and although he came back to skate a couple shifts in the second, he didn’t last long. Meanwhile, Prince George lost both center Brock Hirsche and defenseman Jesse Forsberg to injuries. Rough couple games for these two teams.
TURNING POINT
Inglis’ hit, which came with 3.8 seconds remaining in the first, was the key moment. That gave Everett 4:57 of power-play time to begin the second in a scoreless contest, and the Tips converted twice to take control.
HIT OF THE DAY
Birkholz was on the giving end early in the game when he crunched Hirsche hard into the boards behind the Prince George net. Hirsche skated off holding his wrist and did not return.
THREE STARS
First star: Lotz. 21 saves, congrats on the first win. He was good during scrambles.
Second star: Ryan Harrison, Everett. Scored both goals during the five-minute power play.
Third star: Spencer Asuchak, Prince George. Scored the Cougars’ first goal and used his big body effectively.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Josh Winquist, Everett. One assist, delivered the type of defense-splitting passes the Tips need from him.
BOX SCORE
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