KENNEWICK — The Everett Silvertips found the perfect tonic to alleviate the pain from Wednesday’s shocking comeback victory by Portland — a comeback win of their own.
The Tips erased a two-goal deficit with three unanswered scores, and held on to win 3-2 over the Tri-City Americans before 5,248 fans Friday at the Toyota Center in the Americans’ annual Teddy Bear Toss.
Graham Millar gave Everett its first lead and the only advantage it needed at 15:09 in the second period. It came on a Silvertips power play as the Tips converted two of their six-man advantages Friday after entering the game allowing no goals in their previous 21 chances.
Everett (16-10-0-2, 34 points) showed resiliency after it blew a three-goal third quarter lead in Wednesday’s 7-5 home loss to Portland. Tri-City slipped to 11-18-1-0 (23 points).
Millar’s goal was the only tally in the final 40 minutes and came with assists from Riley Sutter and Matt Fonteyne.
The Silvertips spotted Tri-City the 2-0 lead when they surrendered two power-play goals in the first period. Juuso Valimaki ensured the home crowd did not have to wait long to toss their teddy bears on the ice. Fonteyne drew a penalty at 1:31 in the first, and Valimaki capitalized on the ensuing power play for the 1-0 lead at 2:07.
The Americans made it 2-0 on their second power play when Vladislav Lukin put a carom past Everett goaltender Carter Hart at 15:32.
It might have been more had Hart not made a point-blank save off of a good look from Brian Williams a minute earlier.
Everett’s Remi Laurencelle answered just 16 seconds after Tri-City’s second goal as he maneuvered the puck into the slot and fired a backhander past Evan Sarthou to put Everett on the board at 15:48 in the first.
New Silvertip defenseman Brycen Martin then earned his first point with Everett as Dawson Leedahl deflected in Martin’s shot from the point at 18:31 in the first to tie the game at 2-2 and secure Everett’s first power play goal of the game.
Millar’s goal held up through the final stanza despite several chances for the Americans. Nolan Yaremko had a short-handed breakaway shot knocked away by Hart at 3:40 and another Tri-City attempt hit the crossbar at 14:41.
Laurencelle and Leedahl each finished with a goal and an assist. Hart recorded 22 saves.
Michael Rasmussen and former Silvertip Tyler Sandhu each assisted both of Tri-City’s goals.
The Silvertips make their first trip to the ShoWare Center in Kent tonight as they take on the Seattle Thunderbirds at 7.
Silvertips 3, Americans 2
Everett210—3
Tri-City200—2
1st Period—1, Tri-City, Valimaki 5 (Rasmussen, Sandhu), 2:07 (PP). 2, Tri-City, Lukin 8 (Sandhu, Rasmussen), 15:32 (PP). 3, Everett, Laurencelle 14 (Leedahl), 15:48. 4, Everett, Leedahl 6 (Martin, Laurencelle), 18:31 (PP). Penalties—Fonteyne Evt (boarding), 1:31; James TC (hooking), 12:00; King Evt (high sticking), 14:39; Lukin TC (high sticking), 17:46.
2nd Period—5, Everett, Millar 7 (Sutter, Fonteyne), 15:09 (PP). Penalties—Millar Evt (tripping), 4:03; Bowles TC (hooking), 14:41; served by AuCoin TC (too many men), 16:08; Millar Evt (high sticking, high sticking), 17:19.
3rd Period— No Scoring. Penalties—James TC (checking from behind, checking from behind), 2:28; Fonteyne Evt (embellishment), 7:24; Bowles TC (tripping), 7:24; Laurencelle Evt (high sticking), 14:41.
Shots on Goal—Everett 12-10-3-25. Tri-City 10-5-9-24.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 2/6; Tri-City 2/6.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 16-9-0-2 (24 shots-22 saves). Tri-City, Sarthou 10-17-1-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
A—5,248
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