Seattle beats Silvertips 4-3 in shootout in preseason finale

Published 10:47 pm Saturday, September 17, 2016

EVERETT — If the Everett Silvertips’ final four preseason games are any indication, fans at Xfinity Arena are in for some tense regular-season outcomes.

Layne Bensmiller potted the only penalty shot as the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Tips 4-3 in a shootout Saturday in the preseason finale at Xfinity Arena.

Saturday’s contest was the fourth consecutive Tips game decided in overtime or a shootout. The T-Birds also defeated Everett in a shootout Friday at ShoWare Center.

Riley Sutter a goal and an assist, and Spencer Gerth had two assists to lead Everett (2-2-1-2 preseason).

Calvin Leth led Seattle (5-2) with a goal and an assist.

Seattle’s 16-year-old goaltender Carl Stankowski relieved starter Ryan Gilchrist halfway through the second period and saved all all 23 shots he faced.

The Tips had a number of ample scoring chances in the third including a sprawling save from Stankowski on a two-on-one, and another save by Stankowski on Graham Millar’s breakaway.

Everett took a 2-1 lead into the second period. Then Bensmiller, making his Seattle Thunderbirds debut after being acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders, tied the game with an assist from Leth at 4:38 in the second to make it 2-2.

Sean Richards reclaimed the lead for Everett just eight seconds later, but Sami Moilanen tied the game yet again at 10:15 on the power play to make it 3-3.

That remained the score for the remainder of regulation and overtime

Brett Kemp gave Everett a 2-1 lead when he found the net from the slot on the power play at 14:49. Sutter had previously tied the game for the Tips on the power play at 10:45 when Gerth curled in behind the net and fed Sutter in front of the crease to make it 1-1.

Leth gave the T-Birds a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 4:15 in the opening period.

Everett out-shot the T-Birds 12-1 in the opening period and finished with a 39-15 advantage for the game.

The Tips open the regular season next Friday against the Vancouver Giants at Langley Events Centre. The teams play the following night at Xfinity Arena.

Seattle 4, Everett 3 (SO)

Seattle 1 2 0 0 – 4

Everett 2 1 0 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Seattle, Leth 1 (Harsch), 4:15 (SH). 2, Everett, Sutter 2 (Gerth), 10:45. 3, Everett, Kemp 1 (Kindopp, Davis), 14:49 (PP). Penalties-Schuldhaus Sea (cross checking), 3:46; Tyszka Sea (tripping), 8:39; Allbee Sea (hooking), 14:26; Leth Sea (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:52; Gerth Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:52; Harsch Sea (roughing), 19:59; Onyebuchi Evt (10-minute misconduct), 19:59.

2nd Period-4, Seattle, Bensmiller 1 (Leth), 4:38. 5, Everett, Richards 1 (Gerth, Sutter), 4:46. 6, Seattle, Moilanen 3 (Neuls, Tyszka), 10:15 (PP). Penalties-Mucka Evt (tripping), 6:06; Wylie Evt (interference), 8:24; Bensmiller Sea (holding), 10:37; Hamaliuk Sea (checking from behind, checking from behind), 17:20.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Sutter Evt (roughing), 9:54; Bensmiller Sea (slashing), 11:19.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Seattle 1 (True NG, Bensmiller G), Everett 0 (Sutter NG, King NG, Dewar NG).

Shots on Goal-Seattle 1-8-2-4-1-16. Everett 12-11-13-3-0-39.

Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 1 / 3; Everett 1 / 8.

Goalies-Seattle, Gilchrist 1-0-0-0 (16 shots-13 saves); Stankowski 4-0-0-0 (23 shots-23 saves). Everett, Petit 2-0-0-1 (15 shots-12 saves).