KENNEWICK — The Everett Silvertips nearly pulled off an epic comeback Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Tips, the power play that’s been so reliable for them recently shot blanks.
Everett had a chance to overturn a three-goal deficit in the third period, but instead fell just short, falling 4-3 to the Tri-City Americans.
Everett trailed 4-1 midway through the third period and the game seemed over. But goals by Dawson Leedahl and Remi Laurencelle brought the Tips back within one with 6 minutes remaining. Then 35 seconds later Everett was given a four-minute power play on Parker Bowles’ high-sticking penalty.
Everett had converted 35 percent of its power plays into goals since the Christmas break. But the Tips couldn’t find the net during the four minutes, with Tri-City goaltender Eric Comrie robbing Graham Millar on a rebound chance early in the advantage. It was the second time the Americans killed off a four-minute penalty in the game, and the Tips finished 0-for-5 with the advantage.
Beau McCue had two goals and an assist and Richard Nejezchleb added a goal and two assists to lead Tri-City (25-25-0-3), which avenged a 4-1 loss at Everett the previous night. Lucas Nickles also scored for the Americans, while Comrie finished with 31 saves.
Nikita Scherbak scored the other goal for Everett (33-16-3-1). Austin Lotz finished with 21 saves in net for the Tips.
After Scherbak opened the scoring in the first period, the Americans tied it less than a minute into the second. A Tri-City power play carried over into the second, and good puck movement set up Nejezchleb at 51 seconds to tie it. The Americans then took the lead at 8:05 as McCue cleaned up a loose puck on the rush.
The third period started just like the second as a Tri-City power play carried over and the Americans converted, McCue scoring 38 seconds in to make it 3-1. When Nickles put home a rebound at 6:28 it seemed over.
But Carson Stadnyk made a nice play to set up Leedahl on the rush at 10:53 to give the Tips a glimmer of hope. Then Scherbak set up Laurencelle at 14:00 to get Everett within one and set up a possible grandstand finish, but the Tips couldn’t finish it off.
Americans 4, Silvertips 3
Everett 1 0 2 — 3
Tri-City 0 2 2 — 4
First Period—1, Everett, Scherbak 22 (Laurencelle), 15:44. Penalties—Everett bench (too many men, served by Wharrie), 1:35; James, Tri-City (checking from behind), 12:58;
Second Period—2, Tri-City, Nejezchleb 16 (Sandhu, McCue), 0:51 (pp). 3, Tri-City, McCue 19 (Wotherspoon, Nejezchleb), 8:05. Penalties—Low, Everett (tripping), 12:08; Carlo, Tri-City (high sticking-high sticking), 14:26; Juulsen, Everett (hooking), 19:25.
Third Period—4, Tri-City, McCue 20 (Sandhu, Nejezchleb), 0:38 (pp). 5, Tri-City, Nickles 19 (Gutierrez, Topping), 6:28. 6, Everett, Leedahl 9 (Stadnyk, Pfeifer), 10:53. 7, Everett, Laurencelle 14 (Scherbak, Davis), 14:00. Penalties—Bowles, Tri-City (high sticking-high sticking), 14:35.
Shots on goal—Everett 9-6-19—34. Tri-City 5-12-8—25. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 5. Tri-City 2 of 4.
Goalies—Everett, Lotz 23-12-1-1 (25 shots, 21 saves). Tri-City, E. Comrie 15-12-0-1 (34 shots, 31 saves).
A—4,294.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
