TALKING POINTS
This was a big win for Everett. Not only did the Tips end a four-game losing streak, but they managed to win the type of game they’d let slip so far this season. It got real hairy in the third period when the Tips let a 4-1 lead slip to 4-3. But Everett found a way to hold on, with Josh Birkholz having the unique distinction of scoring two empty-net goals in the same game.
Tips winger Tyler Maxwell made history. Maxwell scored twice to become the all-time leading goal scorer in franchise history. The overager tied Shane Harper for the lead at 100 last Tuesday against Prince Albert. Now he has the record all to himself.
Everett defenseman Nick Walters continued the tradition of shots going clean through the net at the east goal at Comcast Arena. Midway through the second period Walters rocketed a slap shot from the point that rattled the net, but then slammed into the glass behind the goal. Play continued for another 1:17 until the next stoppage, when a video review awarded the goal. That the third time that’s happened at that goal in the past two seasons. Can someone replace that net, please?
Tips netminder Kent Simpson played his second straight strong game following back-up Austin Lotz’s sensational debut on Friday. Simpson stopped 43 shots as the Tips were again outshot by a large margin (46-34), and he did his best work after the Americans pulled within one.
Tri-City coach Jim Hiller channeled his inner Kevin Constantine tonight. Constantine, during his time as Everett’s head coach, was notorious for pulling his goalie early when trailing late, including once beginning the third period without a netminder. Hiller wasn’t quite as bold, but he did pull goaltender Ty Rimmer with 4:57 remaining and the Americans trailing by two. It worked once, as Tri-City scored on the power play with 3:35 remaining. But Hiller kept Rimmer on the bench after that goal, and it backfired as Birkholz got his first empty netter with more than two minutes still on the clock.
Lastly, I saw something new tonight. Midway through the second period Birkholz fired off a shot off the rush that knocked Ty Rimmer’s mask clean off. Rimmer was momentarily stunned, but he remained in the game.
TURNING POINT
There’s all kinds of options tonight. But I honestly believe Walters’ goal was the most important. Everett led 2-0 through 30 minutes when Adam Hughesman scored the first of his two goals to cut the lead to 2-1. Given that the Tips were unable to hold a lead the previous night at Spokane there was an ominous sense of deja vu. But Walters’ blast came just 12 seconds later, and the combination of the goal and the delay for the video review helped settle the Tips down.
HIT OF THE DAY
It wasn’t the heaviest hit of the night, but for my money the best hit was delivered by Everett’s Ryan Murray. Midway through the second period Tri-City star Brendan Shinnimin was speeding into the Everett zone one-on-one with Murray while short-handed. It was a possible scoring opportunity, but Murray forced Shinnimin behind the net and rubbed him out along the wall. It was a textbook defensive play.
THREE STARS
First star: Maxwell. Two goals, one assist and plus-5, congratulations on the record.
Second star: Birkholz. Two goals and one assist, with the exception on one fanned clearance he had a good all-around game.
Third star: Walters. One goal and one assist, and for two periods had about as good a game defensively as I’ve seen him play.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Murray. Speaking of a good game defensively, he had no points yet kept the Americans under wraps whenever he was out there.
BOX SCORE
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