VICTORIA, British Columbia — Dustin Wolf is trusting the process.
The 17-year-old Everett Silvertips netminder let in four goals in Everett’s 4-3 loss to the Tri-City Americans on Friday, an uncharacteristic performance for one the Western Hockey League’s best statistical goaltenders. But poor results don’t always indicate a flawed process.
Wolf’s approached paid off Saturday as he recorded a 29-save shutout, his fourth of the season, and the Silvertips snapped the Victoria Royals’ four-game win streak with a 3-0 victory at Save on Foods Memorial Centre.
“(I) was just continuing to play my style of hockey,” Wolf said. “Last night I gave up four goals, which says otherwise, but I just tried to stick to my game plan. I just warmed up a little in the first period, and they started coming in the second and in the third period I just found my groove.”
It was Wolf’s first shutout since he turned away 21 shots against the Chiefs on Dec. 9.
“He definitely responded from last night,” Everett coach Dennis Williams said. “That’s the talk we had — we needed a response.
“When a goalie is dialed in like that, our defense can stay dialed in and our forwards can play a little bit more on ice and try and score goals, because it’s hard to score goals on (Victoria goalie Griffen) Outhouse. Overall I thought (Wolf) played really well.”
Zack Andrusiak put Everett up 1-0 with his goal one minute, 36 seconds into the second period. A snapshot from the point from Ronan Seeley worked its way through heavy traffic and found its way to Outhouse’s pads and leaked out to Andrusiak, who tapped it into a half-open net with his backhand to record his 31st goal of the season and his 10th goal in nine games. Seeley and Martin Fasko-Rudas were credited with assists.
🚨 ANDRUSIAK 🚨
🍏 Seeley, Fasko-Rudas pic.twitter.com/fgXTddwhUO
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) January 13, 2019
Justyn Gurney then recorded his first goal since being added to the Silvertips’ roster as a snapshot from Wyatte Wylie at the point was deflected off Gurney’s leg and went through Outhouse’s five-hole and into the back of the net at the 8:10 mark of the third period.
🚨 VITELLI 🚨
🍏 Kindopp, Khaira pic.twitter.com/yB2GGjdkEJ
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) January 13, 2019
Reece Vitelli buried a pass from Bryce Kindopp on the odd-man rush for his fifth goal of the season at the 10:35 mark to add to Everett’s lead. Sahvan Khaira was handed a secondary assist.
Everett was able to tilt the ice in the third period.
“I thought we were stronger as the game went on,” Williams said. “When (we went) up 2-0 they started to take some chances, and when they (didn’t) capitalize on those, (we got) some odd-man rushes going the other way.”
It was a tough travel day for the Silvertips, with the team bus departing early in the morning.
After Friday’s loss, Williams said he was satisfied with his team’s response against the Royals.
“That’s a hard day after playing last night, getting up at 7 (a.m.), going to the ferry and not eating until about 1:30 (p.m.),” Williams said. “That was a wearing-and-tearing game last night for ourselves, but I was really happy with the way we stuck with the game plan tonight.
“They’re a good hockey club and they have a good goaltender in Outhouse. They play a fast game and they make it tough to score goals.”
An even opening period ended scoreless with the Silvertips leading shots on goal 8-7.
Everett’s penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3 for the game.
Outhouse stopped 27 of 30 shots.
Next up
Everett hosts Kelowna on Dec. 18 for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop, the third of the team’s four regular season meetings.
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