TALKING POINTS
When a team is coming off a long road trip, then has a week off before playing at home, it’s not always easy for it to find a rhythm in its first game back, particularly at the start.
But Everett showed how it’s done Friday. The Tips scored on the game’s first shift and had a 3-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game. It wasn’t smooth sailing for Everett after that as Spokane, to its credit, got right back in the game and made the Tips work for it the rest of the night. Nevertheless, I’m sure Everett is thrilled with the win in its first home game in nearly three weeks.
Though most of the scoring occurred during a breathless first period — six goals, including two short-handers, coupled with plenty of physical play — it was a pretty well-played game by Everett through the whole 60 minutes. The Tips had all kinds of scoring chances, and frankly they left some goals on the ice as they probably should have put a few more pucks in the net.
It was also a career night for Tips defenseman Ben Betker, who had four assists. Just where did this come from? Betker has been the quintessential stay-at-home defenseman during his three seasons with Everett, doing good work in his own zone and rarely getting involved in the opponent’s. But something happened over Christmas as he’s been a point-producing machine since the second half began. His four assists gave him 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his past nine games. He has seven points in 28 games before that.
Betker was well worth his points tonight, too. He created all kinds of rebounds with a booming shot from the point. But he also created off the rush, making a really nice pass on a short-handed three-on-two to set up a goal. The four-assist night was the first by an Everett player since Alex Theriau had four in Everett’s 10-4 victory over Portland on Oct. 11, 2009, a game famous for the Tips scoring 10 straight goals after falling behind 3-0 (tip of the hat to Travis Huntington for digging up that stat).
TURNING POINT
It probably should be Everett’s blistering start, but I’m going to highlight another moment. Though the Tips jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, Spokane scored twice in the three minutes following Everett’s third goal to get right back into the game. It could have gone either way from there, as the team that scored the next one would have been in control. It was the Tips who got that goal late in the first. Jake Mykitiuk picked an ideal time to score his first as an Everett player, putting home a rebound to stem the tide and give the Tips some breathing room.
THREE STARS
First star: Betker. Four assists, who is this guy?
Second star: Adam Helewka, Spokane. One goal and one assist, tied a franchise record with a goal in his ninth straight game, and he always seems to put up big numbers against the Tips.
Third star: Remi Laurencelle, Everett. One goal and one assist, scored the goal early in the third period that got Everett’s lead back to two.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Matt Fonteyne, Everett. One goal, it was the Tips’ first short-handed goal of the season. Everett was the last team in the WHL to score short-handed.
BOX SCORE
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