TALKING POINTS
Entertaining game tonight in which Kootenay certainly wasn’t three goals better than Everett (two were late empty netters). It was a real madhouse in the third period when seven goals were scored. Kootenay kept taking the lead, only for Everett to tie it back up again. But the Tips only had so many comebacks in them tonight.
Everett had plenty of chances to tie it one final time, but Kootenay goaltender Nathan Lieuwen was really good tonight. He showed why he’s rated the WHL’s top goaltender for next year’s NHL draft.
Everett got a better effort out of its top line of Daniel Bartek, Shane Harper and Kyle Beach tonight. Those three had been struggling of late.
One final thought. Just how many minutes do you think Kootenay defenseman John Negrin played tonight? It had to approach 40. After his partner Ian Barteaux was dealt 27 minutes worth of penalties and didn’t play in the third period, I’m not sure Negrin left the ice.
TURNING POINT
Everett was leading 1-0 and in complete control late in the first period when the Tips were whistled for three penalties in less than two minutes. The penalties took Everett’s top three defensemen (Taylor Ellington, Graham Potuer, Mike Alexander) off the ice during a long Kootenay five-on-three. Andrew Bailey eventually found the net to tie it and Everett’s momentum was stunted.
HIT OF THE DAY
A lot of good hitting out there tonight by both teams. The best probably came midway through the second period when Ellington nearly put Matt Fraser through the glass with a crunching hit behind the Everett net.
THREE STARS
First star: Lieuwen. 33 saves, including several that were straight out of the top drawer.
Second star: Dustin Sylvester, Kootenay. A five-point night aided by two empty-net goals.
Third star: Harper. In on all three Everett goals with two goals and an assist.
The Herald’s honorable mention: The end boards. Both teams got a little help from hard bounces behind the net, leading to an unusual rebound goal for each.
LINEUP NOTES
For Everett, forwards Markus McCrea and Cameron Abney returned to the lineup in place of Jordan Mistelbacher and Tyler Parker, who were healthy scratches. Paul Van de Velde took Mistelbacher’s spot on the left on Everett’s third line with Zack Dailey and Dale Hunt. Forward Ryan White (ankle) and defensemen Shayne Brown (hip flexor) and Trevor Bauer (shoulder) are injured.
Kootenay was without forward Steele Boomer (much to Tips broadcaster Jon Rosen’s consternation) because of a concussion. Defenseman Tyler Vanscourt was a healthy scratch.
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