PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Kent Simpson preserved a perfect weekend for the Everett Silvertips.
Everett’s goaltender stopped a penalty shot late in the third period, and the Tips held on to defeat the Prince George Cougars 4-3 Saturday night.
Everett held a slender one-goal lead with 6 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the game when Prince George’s Charles Inglis was brought down by Brennan Yadlowski on a breakaway. However, Simpson made the save on Inglis’ penalty shot to preserve Everett’s lead.
Yadlowski, Tyler Maxwell, Josh Birkholz and Ryan Harrison scored the goals for Everett (25-25-5-4), which swept its two games this weekend in Prince George. As a result, the Tips pulled into a tie for sixth in the Western Conference with the Cougars.
Simpson, who was making his 14th straight start, continued his quality play by making 28 saves.
The Tips also made it a memorable milestone game for Everett coach Craig Hartsburg. Saturday’s game was Hartsburg’s 500th as a coach at the major-junior level. That includes stints with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League.
Inglis, Brett Connolly and Taylor Stefishen scored for Prince George (28-28-2-1). Ty Rimmer stopped 19 shots in goal for the Cougars.
Everett played almost the entire game with the lead. The Tips took an early advantage with a power-play goal 3:35 into the game. A Ryan Murray shot from the point created chaos in front of the goal, and eventually the puck was forced in by Maxwell to give the Tips a 1-0 lead. The Tips doubled their lead at 12:28, Jari Erricson feeding Birkholz, who blew a slap shot past Rimmer to make it 2-0.
The Cougars twice pulled within one in the second period, only for the Tips to answer. First, Inglis put in a loose puck during a delayed penalty at 8:39. But just 24 seconds later Everett restored its two-goal lead, Yadlowski pinching in from the point and converting a feed from Clayton Cumiskey. Prince George got back within one again on the power play at 11:50, Connolly polishing off a broken play. But Everett made it 4-2 at 16:49, Harrison beating a defender and shooting past Rimmer.
The Cougars got within one once more at 9:27 of the third when Stefishen redirected a feed from Connolly. However, Simpson made sure Prince George got no closer.
Silvertips 4, Cougars 3
Everett 2 2 0 — 4
Prince George 0 2 1 — 3
First Period—1, Everett, Maxwell 38 (Harrison, Stanfield), 3:35 (pp). 2, Everett, Birkholz 16 (Erricson, Walters), 12:28. Penalties—Buonassisi, Prince George (hooking), 3:06; Morden, Everett (hooking), 5:35; Marincin, Prince George (tripping), 14:43; Fowlie, Everett (instigator-fighting-10-minute misconduct), 17:50; Gibb, Prince George (fighting), 17:50.
Second Period—3, Prince George, Inglis 24 (Asuchak, Bourke), 8:39. 4, Everett, Yadlowski 5 (Cumiskey, Winquist), 9:03. 5, Prince George, Connolly 36 (Acolatse, Stefishen), 11:50 (pp). 6, Everett, Harrison 20 (Stanfield, Yadlowski), 16:49. Penalties—Winquist, Everett (slashing), 11:23; Marincin, Prince George (tripping), 16:41; Maxwell, Everett (tripping), 16:48; Stefishen, Prince George (interference), 18:48.
Third Period—7, Prince George, Stefishen 20 (Connolly, Carlson), 9:27. Penalties—Stanfield, Everett (roughing), 10:01; Inglis, Prince George (roughing), 10:01.
Shots on goal—Everett 12-4-7—23. Prince George 11-8-12—31. Power-play opportunities—Everett 1 of 4. Prince George 1 of 4.
Goalies—Everett, Simpson 19-18-5-4 (31 shots, 28 saves). Prince George, Rimmer 14-16-0-1 (23 shots, 19 saves).
A—2,418.
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