KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Everett Silvertips are producing results just when they need it most.
Everett, fighting for its playoff life, won its fourth straight Wednesday night, defeating the Kamloops Blazers 3-2.
Just five days earlier the Tips were in last place in the WHL’s West
ern Conference, looking at a critical stretch of games against teams just ahead of Everett in the standings. But now Everett (22-23-3-4) has won four straight, tying its longest winning streak of the season. The Tips are tied with Prince George for sixth, and they’re five points clear of ninth-place Chilliwack — the top eight teams make the playoffs.
During last weekend’s three-game sweep it was the trio of leading scorer Tyler Maxwell, new captain Ryan Murray and goaltender Kent Simpson who did the heavy work for the Tips, and those three were at it again Wednesday. Maxwell scored twice, including the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining in the game, giving him three two-goal games during the streak. Murray had a goal and an assist, giving him seven points in those four games. And Simpson, who had 36 saves in a strong effort Wednesday, earned the win in all four.
Corey Fienhage and Colin Smith scored for Kamloops (22-29-2-1), which fell four points behind Everett. Jeff Bosch stopped 17 shots in goal for the Blazers.
It looked as though the game was headed to overtime when it was tied 2-2 late in the third period. However, a high-sticking penalty on Kamloops’ J.T. Barnett presented Everett with a late power-play chance. The Tips converted when Maxwell put a shot from the circle in off the post with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining to be played. Everett killed off the rest of the game to earn the full points.
Everett was on the back foot during the first period, getting outshot 21-6. However, the Tips emerged with a 1-0 lead. Simpson was able to keep the puck out of the Tips goal, and Everett found the net at 16:34 when Murray cleaned up a loose puck on Cody Fowlie’s deflected centering feed.
Everett evened out the play in the second period, but it was Kamloops that found the net to tie the score. Just after an Everett power play expired, Dalibor Bortnak found Fienhage, who was able to shoot past a downed Simpson to make it 1-1.
The teams then traded goals early in the third. Everett restored its lead at 1:16 when Maxwell put in the rebound on Parker Stanfield’s wraparound attempt. Then Smith fired over Simpson at 7:50 following an extended stretch of Kamloops pressure.
Silvertips 3, Blazers 2
Everett 1 0 2 — 3
Kamloops 0 1 1 — 2
First Period—1, Everett, Murray 4 (Birkholz, Fowlie), 16:34. Penalties—Yadlowski, Everett (slashing-unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:16; Stanfield, Everett (high sticking), 18:13.
Second Period—2, Kamloops, Fienhage 3 (Bortnak, Ranford), 15:46. Penalties—Erricson, Everett (hooking), 3:04; Keil, Kamloops (hold stick), 8:22; Madaisky, Kamloops (checking from behind), 13:36.
Third Period—3, Everett, Maxwell 34 (Stanfield, Giebel), 1:16. 4, Kamloops, Smith 14 (Frazee), 7:50. 5, Everett, Maxwell 35 (Winquist, Murray), 16:29 (pp). Penalties—Yadlowski, Everett (tripping), 3:54; Barnett, Kamloops (roughing), 9:57; Barnett, Kamloops (high sticking), 15:44.
Shots on goal—Everett 6-9-5—20. Kamloops 21-8-9—38. Power-play opportunities—Everett 1 of 4. Kamloops 0 of 5.
Goalies—Everett, Simpson 16-16-3-4 (38 shots, 36 saves). Kamloops, Bosch 18-16-2-0 (20 shots, 17 saves).
A—4,428.
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