Everett 5, Tri-City 2

TALKING POINTS

Everett got back in the win column tonight, and it was some unexpected sources that delivered the victory.

Luke Siemens was the surprise starter in goal for the Tips and he came up big by making 45 saves. He helped the Tips withstand some furious Tri-City pressure during the second and third periods.

Josh Birkholz and Scott MacDonald were supposed to be major offensive contributors this season, but had just nine combined points in Everett’s first 17 games. They combined for all of the Tips’ goals and eight points tonight.

The five goals were a welcome sight for the Tips, as they scored just 13 in their previous nine games. The five goals matched a season high. One key was scoring on the power play. Everett came into the game ranked last in the WHL on the power play, but the Tips tallied with the advantage just 2:53 into the game to get the ball rolling.

Everett played the third period without captain Landon Ferraro, who was held out with an upper-body injury.

TURNING POINT

It didn’t affect the outcome, but the game changed completely after the first intermission. Everett was the better team in the first period, holding Tri-City without a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes and taking a 3-0 lead. But the Americans came out and dominated the second period, outshooting Everett 20-6, and the Tips were fortunate to head to the third still ahead by two.

HIT OF THE DAY

Late in the first period Birkholz went chest-to-chest with Tri-City’s Tyler Schmidt and and sent Schmidt flying into the glass.

THREE STARS

First star: Siemens. Congratulations on the first WHL victory.

Second star: Birkholz. Five points, polishing off his hat trick with a late empty-net goal.

Third star: MacDonald. Two goals and one assist, he was Everett’s main cog in the first period.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Fill in the blank, Tri-City. Take your pick as a dozen different Americans swarmed the Everett goal in the second period.

BOX SCORE

Everett 5, Tri-City 2