Silvertips on brink of elimination after loss to Giants

EVERETT — After earning the top seed in the Western Conference on the back of a stellar regular season, the Everett Silvertips are on the brink of elimination in the first round of the playoffs.

Jesper Vikman was invincible in goal with 50 saves, Adam Hall had a goal and an assist and the Spokane Indians blanked Everett 3-0 in Game 5 on Saturday night to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 will take place Monday night in Langley, British Columbia, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Silvertips, who scored a total of 24 goals over the first four games, peppered Vikman with shots all night, but couldn’t break the seal.

The Giants opened the scoring at 10:42 in the first period on a goal from Hall. After a scoreless second in which Vikman stopped all 24 Everett shots, Vancouver entered the final period with a narrow 1-0 lead.

Fabian Lysell gave the Giants some breathing room with a goal at 7:48 in the third and Connor Horning added a power-play goal at 18:33 to clinch the win.

Alex Swetlikoff returned to the ice for the Silvertips after missing two game with a suspension, but Jackson Berezowski was still unavailable due to injury.

Braden Holt started in goal and made 28 saves for Everett.

Giants 3, Silvertips 0

Vancouver 1 0 2 — 3

Everett 0 0 0 — 0

1st Period-1, Vancouver, Hall 6 10:42. Penalties-Seeley Evt (tripping), 1:29; Lipinski Van (slashing), 16:09.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Thorpe Van (tripping), 4:05; Swetlikoff Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 10:43; Cotton Van (tripping), 19:11.

3rd Period-2, Vancouver, Lysell 4 (Ostapchuk, Hall), 7:48. 3, Vancouver, Horning 1 18:33 (PP). Penalties-Seeley Evt (tripping), 17:40; Ostapchuk Van (10-minute misconduct), 18:33; Swetlikoff Evt (10-minute misconduct), 18:33; Langkow Van (roughing, unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:10; Courtney Evt (roughing, unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:10.

Shots on Goal-Vancouver 13-10-7-30. Everett 16-24-0-40.

Power Play Opportunities-Vancouver 1 / 3; Everett 0 / 3.

Goalies-Vancouver, Vikman (50 shots-50 saves). Everett, Holt (31 shots-28 saves).

A-5,163

Silvertips’ Alex Swetlikoff takes a shot on goal during the second period of the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Hunter Campbell is slashed by Giants’ Jaden Lipinski during the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Giants’ Jasper Vikman blocks a shot on goal during the game against the Silvertips on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Austin Roest takes a shot on goal during the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Alex Swetlikoff skates with the puck during the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Niko Huuhtanen rolls on the ice grabbing his leg in pain during the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Ben Hemmerling battles Giants’ Ethan Semeniuk for the puck during the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Silvertips’ Alex Swetlikoff breaks his stick on the ice in frustration at the end of the second period of the game against the Giants on Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)