Herald staff
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Everett Silvertips erupted for a half-dozen goals and held on to defeat the Prince George Cougars 6-3 before 2,534 fans at the CN Centre Wednesday.
The victory concluded a dominant two-game sweep for the Tips (6-1-1-0, 13 points) who dealt the previously unbeaten and B.C. Division-leading Cougars (8-2-0-0, 16 points) their first two defeats of the season. Everett shut out Prince George 4-0 in Tuesday’s series opener.
On Wednesday, 10 different Silvertips players recorded points, led by the goal and two assists of Patrick Bajkov and the two goals of Riley Sutter.
The Tips never trailed as they took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission and erupted for three more goals in the second period.
Graham Millar knocked in Everett’s third power-play goal at 1:38 the second and Sutter added his second goal of the game at 2:51 as the lead swelled to 5-2.
Sam Ruopp got one back on a Prince George power play at 15:27, but the Tips immediately responded thanks to Brett Kemp whose goal at 16:11 pushed the lead back to 6-3.
The Tips took the lead for good when Kevin Davis broke a 2-2 deadlock with a power-play goal at 15:54 in the first to cap a wild opening period. His goal came from the point as he utilized a goalie screen for his first goal of the season and Everett’s second power-play goal of the game.
Both teams were scoreless in the third period.
Bajkov opened the scoring with some impressive stick work at 5:29 in the first period to give Everett a 1-0 lead. Sutter added a tap-in at the post off a pass from Bajkov on the power play at 7:36 to make it 2-0.
But the Cougars tied the game on back-to-back shifts nine seconds apart. Brogan O’Brien found the net first at 8:21 and Aaron Boyd made it 2-2 at 8:30.
The game’s first four goals came in a span of 3:01.
Everett finished 3-for-7 on the power play while holding Prince George to a 1-for-4 showing.
Tips netminder Carter Hart recorded 18 saves on 21 shots to pick up the victory. Everett held a 27-21 shot advantage.
Notes
The Tips acquired center Bradly Goethals from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a conditional 2018 seventh-round bantam pick Wednesday. Goethals is expected to report by Saturday’s game against the Seattle Thunderbirds. … Kemp was one of 66 players selected for one of the three Canadian teams that will participate in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge beginning Oct. 27 in Ontario. Tips assistant coach Mitch Love will also coach one of the teams. … First line center Matt Fonteyne and top pair defenseman Lucas Skrumeda were scratched Wednesday due to undisclosed injuries.
Silvertips 6, Cougars 3
Everett330—6
Prince George210—3
1st Period—1, Everett, Bajkov 2 5:29. 2, Everett, Sutter 1 (Bajkov, Davis), 7:36 (PP). 3, Prince George, O’Brien 1 (Harkins, McDonald), 8:21. 4, Prince George, Boyd 2 (Collins, Schoettler), 8:30. 5, Everett, Davis 1 (Bajkov, Zwerger), 15:54 (PP). Penalties—Olson Pg (interference), 2:22; Almeida Pg (high sticking), 7:15; McDonald Pg (high sticking), 15:27; Wylie Evt (tripping), 18:49.
2nd Period—6, Everett, Millar 6 (Juulsen, Skoleski), 1:38 (PP). 7, Everett, Sutter 2 2:51. 8, Prince George, Ruopp 1 (McAuley, Bethune), 15:27 (PP). 9, Everett, Kemp 3 (King, Richards), 16:11. Penalties—Ruopp Pg (roughing), 1:33; Richards Evt (cross checking), 5:20; Boyd Pg (interference), 8:06; Wylie Evt (kneeing), 13:36.
3rd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—McAuley Pg (boarding), 4:28; Khomenko Pg (tripping), 12:45; Wylie Evt (tripping), 16:09.
Shots on Goal—Everett 10-9-8-27. Prince George 6-9-6-21.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 3 / 7; Prince George 1 / 4.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 4-1-1-0 (21 shots-18 saves). Prince George, McBride 3-1-0-0 (13 shots-8 saves); Edmonds 5-1-0-0 (14 shots-13 saves).
A—2,534
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