KENT — Given that the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds are two of the top three defensive teams in the Western Hockey League, goals figured to be tough to come by as the U.S. Division rivals opened their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal playoff series Friday.
And, for the first two periods fans saw the tight-checking, low-scoring defensive contest many anticipated. But Everett scored twice in the opening 3:47 of the third period and went on to defeat Seattle 3-0 before 4,222 fans at ShoWare Center to a 1-0 series lead.
Everett fashioned a 6-2-1-1 record against the division-champion Thunderbirds during the regular season, but had lost the final three games to Seattle. Furthermore, the Tips had scored only once on Seattle goaltender Landon Bow in those three games combined.
On Friday, Remi Laurencelle scored twice and Matt Fonteyne added a power-play tally as the Tips won their fifth playoff game in as many chances so far this postseason.
Silvertips goalie Carter Hart continued his dominance against the Thunderbirds as he finished with 26 saves and his first career postseason shutout. Friday’s effort followed a regular season in which Hart had a 1.32 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage against Seattle while playing all 10 games.
The Silvertips clung to a tenuous 1-0 lead through two periods, but finally capitalized on their seventh power-play opportunity to open the final period.
Following a short-handed shot from Seattle’s Scott Eansor, Fonteyne secured the puck in the Tips defensive zone and sliced his way to the front of the Seattle net and flicked it over Bow’s shoulder to make it 2-0 at 2:51 in the third.
Laurencelle then scored his second of the night at 3:47 with a backhanded shot through traffic and the Tips led by three.
The final score belied what was a defensive battle for the first two periods. The penalties were swift and plentiful in the opening period. Neither team could take advantage although Seattle had an apparent goal called back for interference at 13:06 in the opening period.
The Tips broke the scoreless deadlock at the 11:00 mark in the second period. Carson Stadnyk collected the puck in the corner and found Laurencelle trailing the play unchecked in the slot. Laurencelle deked once and flicked a wrist shot under Bow’s left pad for a 1-0 lead on Everett’s 14th shot of the game.
Everett drew back-to-back penalties in the final minute of the second period to go up two men. Jarret Tyszka was assessed a two-minute penalty for roughing. Nineteen seconds later he was joined by Calvin Leth, who was given a double minor for roughing when Everett’s Patrick Bajkov started bleeding.
The Tips couldn’t capitalize in the second, so the two-man advantage carried over to the third and set up Fonteyne’s goal.
Everett finished with a 29-26 shot advantage.
Game two will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday at ShoWare Center. The series shifts to Xfinity Arena in Everett for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Silvertips 3, Thunderbirds 0
Everett 0 1 2 — 3
Seattle 0 0 0 — 0
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Leedahl Evt (high sticking), 0:16; Ralph Evt (high sticking), 3:26; Hauf Sea (holding), 7:56; Leedahl Evt (cross checking), 12:04; Allbee Sea (cross checking), 13:06; Laurencelle Evt (cross checking), 14:49; Fonteyne Evt (roughing), 20:00; Leth Sea (roughing), 20:00.
2nd Period—1, Everett, Laurencelle 3 (Stadnyk, Juulsen), 11:00. Penalties—Ottenbreit Sea (roughing), 6:31; Eansor Sea (hooking), 12:14; Tyszka Sea (roughing), 19:15; Leth Sea (high sticking, high sticking), 19:34.
3rd Period—2, Everett, Fonteyne 3 2:51 (PP). 3, Everett, Laurencelle 4 (Stadnyk, Millar), 3:57. Penalties—Ottenbreit Sea (roughing), 6:38; Barzal Sea (high sticking), 15:47; Millar Evt (tripping), 18:45; Eansor Sea (spearing, spearing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal—Everett 4-11-14-29. Seattle 13-8-5-26.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 1 / 9; Seattle 0 / 5.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 2-0-0-0 (26 shots-26 saves). Seattle, Bow 4-1-0-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A—4,222
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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