Everett 3, Seattle 0

TALKING POINTS

The Tips won their fifth straight tonight, which makes this the longest winning streak of the season. Everett remains unbeaten in 2010.

Quite the turnaround as the Tips lost 10 of 13 before the current streak. I have to think the dramatic change puts some new thoughts into the head of general manager Doug Soetaert, as the trade deadline is Sunday. What does he do now?

Josh Winquist seems to be blossoming for the Tips. He was moved to left wing on the third line during the recent trip to Kamloops and Kelowna, and the role seems to suit him. He scored his first career WHL goal in Wednesday’s 6-2 victory at Kelowna, then followed it up with another goal tonight as he opened the scoring early in the second period.

It’s a good thing for FSN that Winquist got things going. Up to that point the first televised game of the season was something of a snoozefest. But the Tips took control in the second period and were never really threatened in the third.

TURNING POINT

Things changed after the first intermission. The first period was rather dull, but the Tips opened the second with some good shifts where they cycled well in the offensive zone and forced Seattle to take long shifts. Everett didn’t score on those shifts, but it was just a matter of time before the Tips broke through.

HIT OF THE DAY

Midway through the first period Seattle’s Mikhail Sentyurin lined up Curtis Kulchar against the boards and nearly put Kulchar through the glass.

THREE STARS

First star: Winquist. First-star status may have come from accidentally being awarded Clayton Cumiskey’s assist, but still played a good game. Got good face time on TV.

Second star: Calvin Pickard, Seattle. 34 saves, where would the T-birds be without this guy?

Third star: Shane Harper, Everett. Reclaimed Everett’s goal-scoring lead with his 26th of the season.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Thomas Heemskerk, Everett. 21 saves, not often a goalie with a shutout doesn’t break into the stars.

BOX SCORE

Everett 3, Seattle 0