TALKING POINTS
Major computer issues tonight, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet. The Tips played a reasonable game, but found themselves down 3-0 going into the third. The Tips rallied in the third to pull within one, including Josh Winquist’s short-handed breakaway with less than a minute remaining. But Everett was really up against the odds trying to get two shorties to tie it.
Victoria and Prince George also both lost tonight while Seattle was idle, meaning everything remains essentially the same in the four-way battle for the Western Conference’s final two playoff berths as we head into the weekend. Friday’s home game against Seattle is, of course, huge.
TURNING POINT
The first period was even and with time winding down and Kamloops leading 1-0, Everett had the Blazers pinned for a lengthy stretch. Kamloops’ Cole Ully just banged the puck hard off the boards in a desperate attempt to clear. But the bounce fell right into the path of Blazers leading scorer Brendan Ranford for a breakaway, and Ranford put it away to give Kamloops a big 2-0 lead.
HIT OF THE DAY
Early in the second period Everett’s Zach McPhee rode Brock Balston hard into the boards, knocking Balston’s helmet off in the process.
THREE STARS
First star: Cole Cheveldave, Kamloops. 28 saves, a solid effort.
Second star: Brandon Herrod, Kamloops. One assist, always dangerous.
Third star: Ryan Harrison, Everett. No points, but won faceoffs, I guess.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Josh Birkholz, Everett. One assist, played with jump.
BOX SCORE
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