TALKING POINTS
Strange game. Everett outshoots Saskatoon 36-20, but that feels a little misleading. Until Shane Harper’s winner with just over a minute remaining the only time the Tips found the net was on shots that should have been saved. Saskatoon’s goaltending through the first half of the game was ugly.
Everett had its own goaltending issues, albeit a little different as Leland Irving did not have his best game playing the puck tonight. Just about every time he left the crease to track down the puck it was an adventure. He’s fortunate he didn’t get burned by it tonight.
Overall probably not Everett’s best effort, but on final analysis the Tips were probably deserving winners.
TURNING POINT
I guess you’d have to say this one turned when Saskatoon coach Lorne Molleken decided to go with Garrett Zemlak in goal tonight. Zemlak gifted Everett a 2-0 lead and lasted less than a period.
HIT OF THE DAY
In the first period Everett’s Kyle Beach was headed into the zone one-on-two and went to make a move when Saskatoon’s John Flatters leveled him with a shoulder-to-chest hit.
THREE STARS
First star and second star: Dane Crowley and Taylor Ellington, Everett. Forget Crowley’s goal and Ellington’s assist, this was all about defense as Everett’s top pairing did yeoman’s work tonight. Crowley in particular was a man among boys.
Third star: Braden Holtby, Saskatoon. May have let in a softy, but recovered well to keep the Blades in it.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Harper. Heck of a goal to win it, driving the net and wrapping the puck around Holtby with a minute remaining.
LINEUP NOTES
For Everett, the line of Zach Hamill, Dan Gendur and Beach was reconstituted from the start after weeks of splitting the group up in an attempt to spread the offense out. Also, Vitali Karamnov was moved from center to right wing with Harper lining up in the middle. As for scratches, captain Jonathan Harty was out with a hip pointer, with Chris de la Lande taking his place on defense for just his second appearance in the WHL. Goaltender David Reekie continues to wait out his time on the 60-day injured list, while forwards Tyler Skauge and Tyler Eskesen and defenseman Eddie Friesen were healthy scratches.
For Saskatoon, No. 1 defenseman Jyri Niemi, the 17-year-old rookie from Finland who was tied for the team lead in scoring, was scratched with a jammed wrist suffered in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss at Portland. Defenseman Brendon Wall, a former Everett property, is out with a broken jaw. Forward Kirk Belyk was a healthy scratch.
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