TALKING POINTS
Not a particularly good game by the Tips tonight. Everett played sloppy and largely without urgency, and the Blazers made the Tips pay. It was like night and day from Friday’s effort, when the Tips topped Portland 4-2 — it’s almost as if different teams showed up each night. Goaltender Kent Simpson kept Everett in it, but truth is Kamloops was well deserving of the victory.
A worrying trend is developing for Everett. The Tips gave Kamloops six power plays while earning just two of their own. Everett now has faced 35 opposition power plays this season, while being on the power play just 20 times itself. In every game this season the opposition has had more power-play opportunities than the Tips. Tonight some of those penalties were just staggeringly unnecessary. Everett needs to clean up this aspect of its game fast if it wants to experience any success this season.
Everett trailed 3-2 most of the third period. The Tips mounted furious third-period comebacks each of the previous three times they trailed in the third. But there was nothing close to a third-period charge this time around as the Blazers didn’t give up much of anything in the third.
TURNING POINT
Despite being outplayed, Everett led 2-1 late in the second period. But the Tips got into penalty trouble, and Matt Needham scored two power-play goals in the final three minutes to turn the score around and make it more indicative of play.
HIT OF THE DAY
Midway through the second period Everett’s Nick Walters put a big shoulder on JT Barnett that had multiple Blazers chirping at Walters.
THREE STARS
First star: Needham. Scored the decisive two goals, not bad for a 16-year-old rookie.
Second star: Josh Birkholz, Everett. One goal and one assist, that was pretty much the extent of Everett’s offense.
Third star: Austin Madaisky, Kamloops. Two assists and was a rock on defense.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Dylan Willick, Kamloops. Two goals and was a pesky little player, as always.
BOX SCORE
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