PORTLAND, Ore. — The Everett Silvertips had no shortage of shots.
But just two crossed the line as the Tips fell 3-2 to the Portland Winterhawks before 6.236 fans at Memorial Coliseum Friday.
U.S. Division-leading Everett (32-18-2-2, 68 points) held a 46-23 shot advantage over Portland (28-25-2-0, 58 points) including a 19-2 showing in the third period.
Facing a 3-1 deficit with less than two minutes to go, the Tips pulled goaltender Mario Petit. Everett forward Carson Stadnyk tipped in Brycen Martin’s shot from the point to cut the deficit to one.
But that was the only one of the 19 third-period shots Everett snuck past Portland goaltender Adin Hill as the veteran Winterhawks netminder held the Tips off the board for the final 1:47.
It was Everett’s second consecutive loss.
Petit was tested only twice after he replaced starting goaltender Carter Hart at the beginning of the final period. He saved both shots the Winterhawks sent his way while Hart had 18 saves on 21 shots faced.
The Winterhawks led 2-1 late in the second period and they received some insurance when Keoni Texeira scored on a slap shot from the point that hit the crossbar and deflected in with 15 seconds to play in the second to push the lead to two goals.
That was the final goal until Stadnyk’s tip-in at 18:13 despite Everett opening the third period on the power play and coming up empty on another man advantage midway through the final stanza.
Portland never trailed in the contest. Colton Veloso won the puck in a battle along the left boards and flicked a backhanded pass to the crashing Alex Overhardt in the slot, and Overhardt put it past Hart for the 1-0 lead at 5:41 in the first.
Everett’s best chance in the opening period came after Rihards Bukarts hit the crossbar behind Hart on a power play. That led to a short-handed breakaway for Everett’s Connor Dewar the other way. Hill made the save to keep the Tips off the board.
Jake Christiansen scored the equalizer at 2:26 in the second. Devon Skoleski secured the puck and hit Christiansen at the front of the crease and the defender-turned-forward tied it 1-1.
The Winterhawks had reclaimed the lead at 8:55 when Skyler McKenzie played the puck to Rodrigo Abols at the right post and Abols poked it past Hart for the 2-1 lead.
Overhardt finished with a goal and an assist to pace Portland.
The Silvertips return home tonight when they play host to Victoria at Xfinity Arena beginning at 7. Everett’s weekend concludes with a 5 p.m. start Sunday at Spokane.
Winterhawks 3, Silvertips 2
Everett 0 1 1 — 2
Portland 1 2 0 — 3
1st Period—1, Portland, Overhardt 6 (Veloso, De Jong), 5:41. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (charging), 12:24; Clayton Por (delay of game), 19:49.
2nd Period—2, Everett, Christiansen 4 (Skoleski, King), 2:26. 3, Portland, Abols 14 (McKenzie, Turgeon), 8:55. 4, Portland, Texeira 7 (Overhardt), 19:45. Penalties—No Penalties
3rd Period—5, Everett, Stadnyk 15 (Martin, Fonteyne), 18:13. Penalties—Bukarts Por (hooking), 1:02; Heinrich Por (tripping), 8:56.
Shots on Goal—Everett 11-16-19-46. Portland 10-11-2-23.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0/3; Portland 0/1.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 31-17-1-2 (21 shots-18 saves); Petit 1-1-1-0 (2 shots-2 saves). Portland, Hill 26-22-1-0 (46 shots-44 saves).
A—6,236
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