Silvertips most successful WHL expansion team ever

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, January 11, 2004

PORTLAND – They were outshot and outscored for most of the game, but the Everett Silvertips used a third-period flurry to sweep into Western Hockey League history.

Everett (19-16-7-1) trailed 1-0 until early in the third period before rifling off three unanswered goals, including John Dahl’s game-winner with about 10 minutes to go, en route to a 3-1 victory against the Portland Winter Hawks Sunday.

With the win, the Tips completed their first home-and-home series sweep – Everett edged Portland 3-2 Saturday night in Everett – and improved to three games over .500 for the first time this season.

The Silvertips also broke the WHL expansion team season record with their 19th victory. During the 1995-96 season the expansion Calgary Hitmen won 18 games. Everett, which remains in third place in the U.S. Division, still has 29 regular season games to play.

Fourth-place Portland, which fell to 19-18-4-1, took the lead at 14:50 in the second period when Darrell May scored on a powerplay tip-in off a shot from the left point.

Everett evened the score 6:04 into the third on Marc Desloges’ seventh goal of the season, assisted by Bryan Nathe and Martin Ruzicka.

The Tips pulled ahead at 10:06 of the third when Dahl scored off of a two-on-one pass from Ruzicka. The goal was Dahl’s 16th this year .

Everett padded its lead with about five minutes remaining when Barry Horman scored his 10th of the season, unassisted, during a Portland powerplay.

Everett goalkeeper Jeff Harvey made 29 saves on 30 Portland shots. The Tips tallied 22 shots.

Everett was 0-for-3 on powerplay opportunities, while Portland finished 1-for-4.

Up next, the Silvertips host the Tri-City Americans (19-8-8-3) at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Everett Event Center.

The Tips face Portland for the third time in four games at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, also in Everett.