Silvertips blank Winterhawks, even semifinal series 1-1

EVERETT — What a difference 24 hours can make.

One night after being thoroughly outplayed in their WHL second-round playoff opener, the Everett Silvertips routed the visiting Portland Winterhawks 6-0 on Saturday before 5,631 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena.

“We know we didn’t play up to our standards (Friday) and we were coming out in the first period knowing what we had to do,” said Everett winger Patrick Bajkov, who had a hat trick in the victory. “I think we did a good job of setting the pace, and we built off that.”

Everett’s victory evened the best-of-seven series at one game apiece. The series now shifts to Portland Tuesday and Thursday for Games 3 and 4.

Everett scored on the game’s second shift and never relented en route to the series-tying victory. The effort stood in stark contrast to Friday’s 5-2 defeat in Game 1.

“I thought, all in all, it was a good game,” Everett head coach Dennis Williams said. “We also know that the rest of the games aren’t going to be like this either. They’re a good hockey team. We got them on (an off) night here tonight.”

Bajkov and linemates Sean Richards and Matt Fonteyne combined for four goals and four assists. Garrett Pilon also added a goal and an assist for Everett.

“I thought we had a great night tonight, and after getting that first goal in the first shift I thought the momentum changed,” said Richards, who opened the scoring at 1:02 in the first period. “I thought it came towards us.”

Carter Hart saved all 26 Portland shots for his second shutout of the postseason.

The Tips took a 2-0 lead after one period and broke it open with three goals in the second to take a 5-0 lead into the second intermission.

Martin Fasko-Rudas scored the third goal when he crashed the net and potted a rebound at 3:23 in the second. Then the Tips earned a power play and Bajkov found a deflected puck on his stick at the left post. He fired over Portland netminder Cole Kehler into the open net for a 4-0 lead at 4:51.

Pilon made it 5-0 when he crashed the net and buried a rebound of Riley Sutter’s shot at 15:13.

“That’s what happens when you get to (the front of the net),” Williams said. “That’s a good goalie and a good team and you have to generate second and third opportunities sometimes. Not all of them are what we call ESPN highlight goals … It doesn’t matter how the puck goes across, you just gotta get it across and we had some really great efforts by our guys tonight.”

Bajkov finished off the hat trick with a power-play goal at 18:25 in the third period with a snap shot through traffic from the left circle.

Everett took its first lead of the series on the game’s second shift. Jake Christiansen fired a point shot toward the net and Richards tipped it past Kehler for a 1-0 lead at 1:02.

The Winterhawks immediately argued that it was a high stick, but the officials upheld the goal after checking the video replay.

The Tips pushed their lead to 2-0 when a Richards pass sprung Fonteyne, who in turn found Bajkov sneaking behind the Portland defense all alone. Bajkov tucked the puck inside the right post as Everett took the two-goal advantage at 13:27.

Kehler allowed five goals on 22 shots and was replaced by backup Shane Farkas at the beginning of the third period.

The Tips finished 2-for-3 on the power play while holding Portland scoreless in three chances. The Winterhawks are now 0-for-4 in the series.

“That’s huge,” Bajkov said. “They have a great power play over there with a lot of skill and a lot of talent. I was proud of the guys for getting that done and obviously the power play came through as well, so that was nice to see.”

Game 3 is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. With the victory the Tips ensured they will return to Angel of the Winds Arena for Game 5 Friday.

For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.

Silvertips 6, Winterhawks 0

Portland 0 0 0 — 0

Everett 2 3 1 — 6

1st Period—1, Everett, Richards 3 (Christiansen, Bajkov), 1:02. 2, Everett, Bajkov 5 (Fonteyne, Richards), 13:27. Penalties—Wylie Evt (cross checking), 14:04.

2nd Period—3, Everett, Fasko-Rudas 2 (Wylie), 3:23. 4, Everett, Bajkov 6 (Davis, Fonteyne), 4:51 (PP). 5, Everett, Pilon 5 (Sutter, Vala), 15:13. Penalties—Ludvig Por (hooking), 3:55; Butt Evt (high sticking), 19:23.

3rd Period—6, Everett, Bajkov 7 (Dewar, Pilon), 18:25. Penalties—Ludvig Por (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:30; Walker Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:30; Bellows Por (roughing), 5:00; Hughes Por (roughing), 5:00; Texeira Por (roughing), 5:00; Bajkov Evt (embellishment), 5:00; Davis Evt (roughing), 5:00; Vala Evt (roughing), 5:00; Blichfeld Por (holding), 9:37; Vala Evt (tripping), 12:41; Hughes Por (roughing), 17:12; Ludvig Por (cross checking, slashing, roughing), 17:12; Fairbrother Evt (roughing), 17:12; Richards Evt (slashing, roughing), 17:12.

Shots on Goal—Portland 10-11-5-26. Everett 15-7-10-32.

Power Play Opportunities—Portland 0 / 3; Everett 1 / 3.

Goalies—Portland, Kehler (22 shots-17 saves); Farkas (10 shots-9 saves). Everett, Hart (26 shots-26 saves).

A—5,631