The Game
This one had a bit of a weird feel to it.
First of all, the Everett Silvertips bus ran into traffic somewhere between Tacoma and Portland, meaning it didn’t reach Memorial Coliseum until 5:45 for a 7:05 puck drop (normally teams arrive two hours early).
This was mentioned first by Silvertips play-by-play man Mike Benton and also by the Portland broadcasting crew. I don’t know if this affected the team’s readiness in any way, but the Silvertips are a team of routine, and travel difficulties can upset routine.
The Tips were trailing 2-1 late in the second period, but allowed a goal with 15 seconds to go that gave the Winterhawks a two-goal cushion heading into the third.
Everett head coach Kevin Constantine then made the unusual move of pulling Carter Hart for backup Mario Petit. Though he wasn’t really challenged Petit did save both shots he faced.
Carson Stadnyk scored with 1:47 to go (his fourth goal in the last three games). But the Tips couldn’t get the tying tally in the final minute-plus as Portland goaltender Adin Hill stopped 44 of Everett’s 46 shots.
By my count this is just the fourth time this season Hart has been pulled, and the first time he’s been pulled with the game’s outcome still in doubt. (He left after two periods and trailing 4-0 at Prince George on Sept. 27, trailing 5-1 midway through the third period at Portland on Oct. 16, and trailing 4-0 four minutes into the third against Tri-City on Dec. 8).
Hart remained on the bench so it would seem it was a simple goalie change not based on injury:
@JesseGeleynse @hawkeyblog It appears that way. I never saw Hart in any discomfort at any point.
— Scott Sepich (@SSepich) February 13, 2016
The Turning Point
With 15 seconds to go in the second period, Keoni Texeira scored from the point on a slap shot that hit the crossbar and deflected into the net. That gave Portland a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Three Stars
1. Portland F Alex Overhardt: Overhardt had a goal and an assist.
2. Portland G Adin Hill: The netminder had 44 saves and stopped several point blank chances for the Winterhawks.
3. Portland F Rodrigo Abols: Abols scored the go-ahead goal at 8:55 in the second period.
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