KELOWNA, B.C. — The Everett Silvertips have shown this season they won’t be intimidated by the opponent or the venue.
Everett proved that again Wednesday as Dawson Leedahl scored the overtime game-winner as the Silvertips knocked off defending WHL champion and Western Conference-leading Kelowna 2-1 before 5,781 fans at Prospera Place.
The Silvertips (20-12-0-2, 42 points) ended the Rockets’ nine-game home winning streak for their first road victory at Kelowna in nearly four years. It was the fifth win in Everett’s past six road games and ended the Tips’ brief two-game losing streak.
Kelowna slipped to 27-9-2-0 with 56 points.
Facing a Rockets team with the WHL’s best record that averages a Western Conference-best 3.70 goals per game, the Silvertips outshot Kelowna 36-25.
Twenty of those shots came in the final period, and the Tips maintained that momentum into overtime as Cole MacDonald fed Leedahl for the game-winner at 2:27 in the extra session.
Following a scoreless opening period, Dillon Dube took advantage of a two-on-one opportunity and gave Kelowna a 1-0 lead with a wrister from the slot at 11:45 in the second period. Kole Lind and Jonathan Smart assisted the goal.
Kelowna’s lead lasted only 25 seconds. Graham Millar tied the game during a scrum in front of the net at 12:10 off assists from Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov for a 1-1 tie. That was how the second period ended.
Everett thought it had taken the lead on a Brian King shot at 9:53 in the third, but the goal was waved off after a video review.
The Rockets were playing short-handed with Rourke Chartier (Canada), Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) and Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland) all in Finland for the World Junior Championship. In addition Justin Kirkland and Riley Stadel are currently serving suspensions.
Kelowna started more quickly than Everett with the Rockets tallying 10 shots in the opening period to just five for the Tips. Everett killed two first-period penalties and was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill for the night.
The Rockets weren’t whistled for their first infraction until the third period and killed both of Everett’s chances in the frame.
Everett goaltender Carter Hart recorded 24 saves for his league-leading 20th victory of the season. Kelowna goaltender Jackson Whistle was impressive in his own right with 34 saves.
The teams complete this week’s home-and-home series with a game at 2 p.m. Friday at Xfinity Arena.
Silvertips 2, Rockets 1
Everett 0 1 0 1 — 2
Kelowna 0 1 0 0 — 1
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Skrumeda Evt (tripping), 12:19; Davis Evt (delay of game), 17:59.
2nd Period—1, Kelowna, Dube 15 (Lind, Smart), 11:45. 2, Everett, Millar 8 (Fonteyne, Bajkov), 12:10. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (interference), 0:08.
3rd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Smart Kel (hooking), 9:53; Lind Kel (tripping), 13:19.
OT Period—3, Everett, Leedahl 9 (MacDonald), 2:27. Penalties—No Penalties
Shots on Goal—Everett 5-9-20-2-36. Kelowna 10-7-7-1-25.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0 / 2; Kelowna 0 / 3.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 20-11-0-2 (25 shots-24 saves). Kelowna, Whistle 19-6-2-0 (36 shots-34 saves).
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