TALKING POINTS
What a different story it was tonight from the last time the Tips played on home ice. Everett was humiliated in last Sunday’s 8-2 thrashing at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets. But the Tips were much improved tonight. Granted, it was a different level of competition — Kelowna is one of the hottest teams in the league, while Vancouver has the league’s worst record. But Everett was aggressive and played with a lot of jump, something that was completely missing Sunday.
Everett’s defense in particular was like night and day from Sunday. The Tips defenders looked helpless that night, but they were much better tonight. The likes of Connor Cox, Ben Betker and Cole MacDonald were noticeably much improved as Everett’s D played with a lot more composure.
Everett’s four young rookie forwards Carson Stadnyk, Ty Mappin, Tyler Sandhu and Dawson Leedahl were all on the scoresheet. Those four are the future for the Tips, and I’m pretty sure this was the first time all four put up points on the same night.
Lastly, I don’t know how it as where you were sitting, but it was extremely hot up in the press area, maybe the warmest I’ve ever experienced it at Comcast Arena. By the end of the game I was sweating. Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but who turned up the heat?
TURNING POINT
The key for Everett was scoring early in the second period. The Tips grabbed control of the game late in the first period, but were unable to convert a series of scoring chances. But the Tips stuck with it in the second rather than getting discouraged, and things opened up after Stadynk converted a feed from Mappin at 2:49 to break the scoreless deadlock.
THREE STARS
First star: Joshua Winquist, Everett. Two goals, both during the second period as the Tips built a 3-0 lead.
Second star: Daniel Cotton, Everett. 19 saves, not a whole lot to do, but congratulations on the first career shutout.
Third star: Manraj Hayer, Everett. Two assists, was his usual scooting self.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Reid Petryk, Everett. One goal and it was an empty netter, but what I really liked was the way he set the tone in the first period with his energy. Those defensemen mentioned earlier also deserve recognition, particularly MacDonald.
BOX SCORE
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