TALKING POINTS
Everett was oh so close to getting something from what was an entertaining game. However, everything broke bad for the Tips in the final two minutes. A bad turnover ultimately led to Portland snapping a 3-3 tie with just 1:31 remaining. Then with 4.7 seconds remaining the Tips were awarded a penalty shot after the Winterhawks knocked their own net down as Everett shot toward goal. But Portland goaltender Mac Carruth closed the door on Josh Winquist to prevent Everett from getting at least a point. After the game Everett coach Mark Ferner expressed some sentiment that Cody Fowlie’s shot was goalbound when the net was knocked off, and that a goal should have been awarded outright. However, after a video review the officials disagreed.
It was an interesting game in that the Tips played relatively even with the Winterhawks, despite it being more of the up-and-down tempo that Portland prefers. That being said, Everett was helped by the fact the Winterhawks put a lot of shots wide.
Victoria beat Kelowna 3-1 tonight, meaning we’re right back where we started Wednesday. Everett is back in eighth place, one point behind Victoria, but the Tips have the chance to hop back over the Royals when they come to town Saturday for Everett’s final home game of the season.
There was a VIP in the stands tonight as former NHL great Steve Yzerman was in attendance. Yzerman is now the general manager of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, who find themselves sliding in the standings. Think maybe he was getting a first-hand peek at Ryan Murray?
TURNING POINT
The penalty shot would have gained Everett a point, but the real killer was the turnover that led to the game-winning goal. There was no pressure when Tips defenseman Dominik Bittner fumbled the puck at the side of his own goal. That allowed the Winterhawks to keep the puck in Everett’s zone with a bad line matchup, and after a stretch where the Tips were scrambling Troy Rutkowski finished it off by getting a shot past Austin Lotz that just trickled into the corner.
HIT OF THE DAY
Early in the third period Portland’s Joe Morrow unseated Kohl Bauml as he rubbed Bauml out along the boards.
THREE STARS
First star: Morrow. Two assists, absolutely controlled the proceedings from the blue line.
Second star: Reid Petryk, Everett. One goal, battled hard.
Third star: Rutkowski. One goal, it was the game winner.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Marcel Noebels, Portland. Two assists, he certainly seems to have been energized by his trade from Seattle to Portland.
BOX SCORE
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