EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips were 30 seconds away from sealing a 2-1 win in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Seattle Thunderbirds at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, but the Thunderbirds tied it with goalie Scott Ratzlaff pulled for the extra attacker. Braeden Cootes fired from the right circle, and Nathan Pilling tipped it in to force overtime.
After a couple of close chances on a red-hot Ratzlaff in the opposing net, the Silvertips managed to keep the puck in the offensive zone thanks to a Nolan Chastko interception, which eventually cycled to Landon DuPont at the blue line. DuPont sent the puck across the point to Eric Jamieson, who rifled it through to score the overtime goal at 7:33 and tie the series 1-1 with a 3-2 win.
#Silvertips win 3-2 in OT
Eric Jamieson fires the OT winner at 7:32 after a strong effort from Chastko, then DuPont to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Everett avoids disaster and ties the series 1-1@HeraldNetSports
— Joe Pohoryles (@Joe_Poho) March 30, 2025
The 19-year-old defenseman had sent a shot off the bar earlier in the game. He made sure to put it on target this time.
“It was just all kind of a blur, to be honest,” Jamieson said. “The lights went out and everyone was going nuts, and then my teammates, seeing their smiles and them coming over and all hugging me, that was just awesome.”
Going down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series on home ice — against the lowest seed in the Western Conference — would have been devastating for the top seed Everett. Rather than dwell on the missed opportunity at the end of regulation, the Silvertips focused forward.
“Perspective is what we talked about. Perspective’s everything,” Everett coach Steve Hamilton said. “If we score that (tying) goal, we’re thrilled to be going to overtime. So it’s another opportunity. We had to shape it that way because, yeah, you’re disappointed there’s 29 seconds left in the game. It’s disappointing, but the outcome is you’re still playing.”
Jamieson’s overtime winner allowed the Silvertips to overcome another strong performance from Ratzlaff, who finished with 44 saves. Lukas Kaplan and Austin Roest scored the other goals for the Silvertips, and Jesse Sanche made 33 saves after sitting behind Raiden LeGall in Game 1 on Friday.
“It’s incredible, this group,” Sanche said. “We come in after they tie that one up, and no doubt, zero doubt. Everyone knew we were winning this game, and yeah, I mean, I can’t say enough good things about them. They got the job done.”
Kaplan opened the scoring at 13:49 of the first period, beating Ratzlaff from the right circle. The Silvertips rolled that momentum into sustained offensive zone possessions, while players such as Jaxsin Vaughan and Kaden Hammell threw their bodies around to disrupt Seattle’s play. That physicality led to chances on the other end, but Ratzlaff and the Thunderbirds proved nearly impossible to crack.
“He’s obviously a really good goalie, that’s what’s gotten him drafted (to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres in 2023),” Roest said. “I think the big thing for us is just not letting him see pucks, especially from the point. We can’t be soft. We can’t shy away from contact. We just need to get in front of his eyes, and if we can do that, it’s going to be tough for any goalie to stop pucks.”
Everett had a clear opening to double their lead when the puck rolled across the crease while Ratzlaff lunged out of position, but Pilling managed to clear it out of harm’s way before a Silvertip could get to it. Another potential goal was waved off after Ratzlaff trapped the puck in his glove right on the goal line at 15:09.
Have no fear, Nathan Pilling is here!
The @SeattleTbirds alumnus makes a big stop for the visitors.#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/GtemIo7frS
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 30, 2025
Before Everett could strengthen its lead, Cootes tied it 1-1 at 16:38 of the second period with a power-play goal from the left side.
After a back-and-forth beginning to the third period, which included some big saves from Sanche, the Silvertips finally broke through again when Roest managed to redirect the puck off of Shea Busch’s stick, which had tipped Tarin Smith’s point shot on the way to the net, giving Everett a 2-1 lead with less than seven minutes left.
“It was very clearly communicated today what the expectation was for the game and what we needed to do,” Hamilton said. “The guys understood, and I really liked the leadership of our dressing room today. You can just hear in the distance the guys are connected, and it was good. It was a team effort.”
While the Silvertips were happy to even the series and avoid hitting the road down two games, they did not escape Saturday night completely unscathed. Forward Tyler MacKenzie went down in the first period after a hit from Thunderbirds defenseman Simon Lovsin in front of Seattle’s net. The 20-year-old left the game and could be seen on the press level wearing a sling on his left arm.
Hamilton did not have an update for his status going forward, but if he misses time, it will be a significant blow for a Silvertips team that is already without leading scorer Carter Bear (lower-body injury). MacKenzie finished second on the team behind Bear (40 goals, 82 points) in points (78) and goals (33) this season, and he led the team with 45 assists.
MacKenzie just came up to the press level where the scratches sit wearing a hoodie and with his left arm in a sling.
Bad sign for the #Silvertips
— Joe Pohoryles (@Joe_Poho) March 30, 2025
That type of production can only be made up in the aggregate, and Everett’s depth will be tested if his injury proves to be long-term.
“It sucks losing a guy like ‘Macker,’ but we have a lot of depth on this team,” Roest said. “I know the guys who are maybe taking over for him, they’re going to be ready, and they’re going to play their best and play their hearts out. I’m still confident in this group, and hopefully ‘Macker’ can get back sooner than later.”
With or without MacKenzie, the Silvertips will aim to take their first lead in the series in Game 3 against Seattle at accesso ShoWare Center in Kent on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.
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