KENNEWICK — The Everett Silvertips are down to it.
They still can win the U.S. Division of their own volition, but it will have to wait until the weekend.
The Tips dropped their second straight Tuesday as they fell 4-2 to the Tri-City Americans before 2,799 fans at the Toyota Center.
The Tips (45-20-2-3, 95 points) still have a four-point lead over Portland (43-21-1-4, 91 points) for the division lead. Everett has two games remaining with a home-and-home scheduled with Victoria this weekend. Portland plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday to conclude its schedule.
Tuesday was the first time Everett has lost back-to-back games since Jan. 5 and 6 in losses at Victoria and at home to Portland. The Tips fell 2-0 to the Winterhawks Sunday at the Moda Center in Portland.
Tri-City led 1-0 through the first period and 3-2 through the second. Riley Sawchuk’s empty-netter sealed it at 18:46.
Nevertheless, a pair of Everett power-play goals gave Everett a brief 2-1 lead in the second. Matt Fonteyne’s power-play goal at 2:52 tied the game, and Garrett Pilon buried a rebound at 9:03.
Patrick Bajkov assisted Pilon’s goal for his 94th point of the season and set a new single-season franchise record.
However, the lead was short-lived. Michael Rasmussen deflected in the tying goal at 10:45, and Morgan Geekie regained the lead with a backhander in close at 15:10 to make it 3-2.
Jake Bean initially gave the Americans the lead at 18:23. He secured his own rebound and beat Carter Hart from the bottom of the left circle.
Hart took the loss as he saved 20 of Tri-City’s 23 shots. Patrick Dea earned the win with 33 saves on Everett’s 35 shots.
Geekie and Bean each had a goal and an assist while Sasha Mutala had a pair of helpers to lead the Americans. Kevin Davis assisted both Everett goals.
Friday’s penultimate regular-season game is Everett’s home finale as the Tips play host to the Royals at 7:35 p.m.
Americans 4, Silvertips 2
Everett 0 2 0 — 2
Tri-City 1 2 1 — 4
1st Period—1, Tri-City, Bean 11 (Johnson, Yaremko), 18:23. Penalties—No Penalties
2nd Period—2, Everett, Fonteyne 34 (Davis), 2:52 (PP). 3, Everett, Pilon 33 (Bajkov, Davis), 9:03 (PP). 4, Tri-City, Rasmussen 29 (Bean, Geekie), 10:45. 5, Tri-City, Geekie 29 (Välimäki, Mutala), 15:10. Penalties—Clayton Tc (high sticking), 2:38; Fairbrother Evt (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 4:45; Sawchuk Tc (holding), 8:05.
3rd Period—6, Tri-City, Sawchuk 15 (Mutala), 18:46. Penalties—No Penalties.
Shots on Goal—Everett 7-18-10-35. Tri-City 6-11-7-24.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 2 / 2; Tri-City 0 / 1.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 29-6-1-3 (24 shots-20 saves). Tri-City, Dea 21-14-7-0 (35 shots-33 saves).
A—2,799
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
