SPOKANE — Prior to this season the Everett Silvertips last had a player reach the 30-goal threshold in 2015.
Now the Tips have three.
Both Garrett Pilon and Connor Dewar reached the 30-goal plateau Tuesday as the Tips defeated the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 before 4,469 fans at Spokane Arena.
The duo joins Matt Fonteyne who has 31 on the season.
The U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (39-17-2-3, 83 points) also clinched a playoff spot for the 15th consecutive season with the victory. Everett has points in nine straight games and leads the division by nine points over second-place Portland.
“It’s great for the organization, great for the community to be in the playoffs again,” Everett assistant coach Mitch Love said in a post-game interview on 1380 KRKO-AM. “But again we’ve got 11 games left and we have bigger fish to fry, and to try to win a division title for our fans here again and then get ready for the playoffs.”
Spokane (33-20-3-2, 71 points) had won three straight and last lost in regulation to Everett at home on Feb. 11.
The Tips led 3-1 after two periods. Dewar’s breakaway backhander at 13:31 restored Everett’s lead to three goals and was his 30th of the season.
That was more than enough for Carter Hart, who saved 28 of the 29 shots he saw. Spokane also hit the post three times in the contest.
Everett broke a scoreless tie after one period by building a three-goal lead.
Pilon opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the second he scored backhanded on a wraparound attempt.
Riley Sutter tipped in Jake Christiansen’s point shot on the power play 12:13 to make it 2-0. Pilon then added his second of the game on a delayed penalty when he knocked the puck into the net out of the air at 14:17.
But the Chiefs got one back before the second intermission. Eli Zummack took a stretch pass from Luke Gallagher, toe-dragged in the slot and beat Hart up high to make it 3-1.
Both teams fired seven shots in a scoreless opening period.
Everett finished with a 34-29 shot advantage. The Tips converted their lone power play while holding Spokane scoreless on both of its opportunities.
Tips co-captain and defenseman Kevin Davis started the game and become the franchise’s all-time games played record-holder. It was the 336th career game for Davis who moved past Shane Harper who set the record from 2005-10.
Silvertips 4, Chiefs 1
Everett 0 3 1 — 4
Spokane 0 1 0 — 1
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—No Penalties
2nd Period—1, Everett, Pilon 29 (Davis, Dewar), 0:31. 2, Everett, Sutter 24 (Christiansen, Wylie), 12:13 (PP). 3, Everett, Pilon 30 (Walker, Vitelli), 14:17. 4, Spokane, Zummack 12 (Gallagher), 17:11. Penalties—Sutter Evt (kneeing), 6:04; McKay Spo (interference), 10:23; Gerth Evt (major-fighting), 14:55; Faith Spo (major-fighting), 14:55.
3rd Period—5, Everett, Dewar 30 (Pilon), 13:21. Penalties—Vitelli Evt (holding), 16:18.
Shots on Goal—Everett 7-20-7-34. Spokane 7-10-12-29.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 1 / 1; Spokane 0 / 2.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 24-4-1-3 (29 shots-28 saves). Spokane, Weatherill 21-10-3-2 (34 shots-30 saves).
A—4,469
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