EVERETT — Connor Dewar likes to think of himself as a big-moment player.
Boy, did he demonstrate that Friday.
The Everett Silvertips captain tallied a goal and an assist in the the last two minutes, 59 seconds en route to a four-point night, powering Everett to a 5-3 win over Edmonton at Angel of the Winds Arena.
“I think just all my life I’ve been able to score in big moments,” Dewar said. “It’s the goal you want to score when you’re watching on television, and it’s the kind of stuff you dream about.”
It was Dewar’s second four-point night of his career, the first coming March 17 at Victoria. His career high for points in a game came during the Silvertips’ 11-0 win over Vancouver on Dec. 27, 2017. It was Dewar’s 23rd multi-point game of the season and his third of the season. His eight points lead Everett this season.
What makes Dewar able to pot goals at a high rate despite the fact that he’s not the flashiest player? It’s a mindset, according to his head coach, Dennis Williams.
“He’s a warrior,” Williams said. “It takes a mindset for him to get to those (scoring) areas — those are tough areas. A lot of guys want to go in there and they don’t go in there; they are your typically perimeter hockey player. Connor Dewar is the opposite of that. He gets right in there, and he’s not afraid to get his nose dirty and score those type of goals.”
After taking a 3-2 lead in to the second period, the Silvertips relented a rebound goal to Vladimir Alistrov with 12:10 remaining in regulation and tie the game at 3-3.
“I think we have to better understand our opponent, especially going into the third up 3-2,” Williams said. “I didn’t think we came out with the desperation we needed to finish off a game. Edmonton elevated their game there in third and we kind of sat status quo and played in our zone.”
That’s when Dewar helped take over.
A feed from Dewar to Bryce Kindopp in the slot led to the game-winning goal on the power play at the 2:59 mark.
🚨KINDOPP🚨
🍏 Dewar, Seeley pic.twitter.com/FFVCxv17Fj
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 13, 2018
The 19-year-old forward added an insurance goal, sniping a wrister past Edmonton goaltender Boston Bilous with 1:41 remaining.
With Everett trailing 2-1 in the second period, Dawson Butt knotted the score after breaking loose behind the Oil Kings’ defense and firing a shot past Bilous at the 5:25 mark.
“I just saw one of their players turn the puck over and Reece Vitelli got it to me and I saw a little opening and just shot it on net,” Butt said. “I was screaming for it, so I wanted it.”
🚨BUTT🚨
🍏 Vitelli pic.twitter.com/vxo7rDJwYL
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 13, 2018
Williams called Butt’s first goal of the season the turning point of the game.
“What a goal by (Butt),” he said. “What a play by Reece to get it up there, and the backhand-forehand snap to get it up there. What a quick release and shot from (Butt). That got us going. That, for me, was the turning point.”
Dewar responded not long after with 4:05 remaining in the second, poking a backhanded rebound goal through Bilous’ five-hole while parked in front of Edmonton’s net while on the power play to provide Everett a 3-2 lead.
🚨DEWAR🚨
🍏 Sutter, Christiansen pic.twitter.com/AplBTPrU2Z
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 13, 2018
It was a typical Dewar goal.
“I think (Sutter) might have hit him (with a shot) right there in the stomach,” Williams said. “Those are Connor Dewar’s type of goals. That’s how he makes a living, and he will make a living playing there because he’s fearless. A lot of guys say he wants to get to those areas, but they don’t get there. He’s one that will stop, take cross-checks, slashes, whatever it is to pay the price and score a goal.”
The Oil Kings evened the score earlier in the second as Conner McDonald’s slapshot from the blueline snuck past Everett goaltender Dustin Wolf just 57 seconds into the period.
Vince Loschiavo handed Edmonton a brief 2-1 lead after Vince Loschiavo broke loose in the slot and buried the backhanded feed from rookie Jake Neighbours for the power-play tally.
🚨 CHRISTIANSEN 🚨
🍏 Dewar, Kindopp pic.twitter.com/16uu8FmCAa
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 13, 2018
The Silvertips jumped out in front 1-0 with Jake Christiansen’s goal with 5:09 remaining in the first. Dewar tried to thread a pass to rookie left wing Gage Goncalves, and the puck was deflected by Edmonton defenseman Jacson Alexander. Thankfully for Everett, the puck floated to the slot and Christiansen skated up and sniped it past Bilous.
“I was looking for Gage there. I wanted to get him his first,” Dewar said. “It went off a stick and went right to Jake, so it worked out.”
The Silvertips’ power play came alive, converting 2-of-7 chances. It was just the second time this season Everett’s potted multiple goals in a game off the power play this season, the first coming in a 3-2 win at Tri-City on Sept. 29.
Everett dominated shots on goal, peppering 44 shots to Edmonton’s 20.
Wolf stopped 17-of-30 shots for the Silvertips while Bilous deflected 39-of-44 for the Oil Kings.
Everett hosts Kamloops on Saturday in the second game of a three-game weekend set before traveling to Portland to face the Winterhawks on Sunday.
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