KELOWNA, B.C. — The Everett Silvertips’ long road drought is finally over.
Everett ended nearly three months of road futility Wednesday night, defeating the Kelowna Rockets 3-2.
Everett’s last road victory was a 3-2 shootout victory at Red Deer on Oct. 28. Since then the Tips lost 13 consecutive games away from Comcast Arena.
Goals from Manraj Hayer, Kohl Bauml and Nick Walters, along with 34 saves from Kent Simpson, lifted the Tips (9-27-1-8), who earned a measure of revenge. Everett lost 3-2 in a shootout to Kelowna at home on Sunday, a game in which the Tips controlled play.
With the victory, the Silvertips climbed within six points of Victoria for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
Colton Sissons and Shane McColgan scored for Kelowna (19-22-2-3). Adam Brown made several sterling saves among his 20 while in goal for the Rockets, who were unable to take advantage of their 7-3 power-play advantage.
Everett opened the scoring 7 minutes, 39 seconds into the game. Josh Birkholz’s pass sprung Hayer on a breakaway, and Hayer converted on the forehand to give Everett a 1-0 lead.
The Tips doubled their lead on the power play at 18:13. The puck came to Bauml in front, and his backhander just squeezed through Brown to make it 2-0.
Everett had several golden opportunities to pad its lead in the second period. However, Brown denied Josh Winquist on a penalty shot, then denied both Birkholz and Ryan Murray when the Rockets were playing short-handed.
Kelowna pulled within one by scoring a five-on-three goal late in the second period. Shane McColgan found Sissons on the back door shortly after Murray’s chance was denied, making it 2-1 at 19:19.
The Tips restored their two-goal advantage 2:05 into the third. Walters’ wrister through traffic found its way past Brown just as an Everett power play expired, making it 3-1.
The Rockets pulled back within one goal again at 10:08 when McColgan’s shot off the rush glanced off Simpson’s glove and into the net. Kelowna pushed down the stretch, but Simpson made several big saves to preserve the victory.
Silvertips 3, Rockets 2
Everett201—3
Kelowna011—2
First Period—1, Everett, Hayer 1 (Birkholz, Winquist), 7:39. 2, Everett, Bauml 8 (Murray, Fowlie), 18:13 (pp). Penalties—Walters, Everett (fighting), 1:32; Goulbourne, Kelowna (fighting), 1:32; Caron, Everett (roughing), 4:31; Boyd, Everett (slashing), 12:52; Lyon, Kelowna (interference), 17:23; Fowlie, Everett (roughing-10-minute misconduct), 19:31; Walters, Everett (roughing), 19:31; Sissons, Kelowna (roughing), 19:31; Bell, Kelowna (roughing-10-minute misconduct), 19:31; Bulmer, Kelowna (roughing), 19:31.
Second Period—3, Kelowna, Sissons 24 (McColgan, Rigby), 19:19 (pp). Penalties—Harrison, Everett (kneeing), 7:03; Harrison, Everett (checking from behind), 12:58; Caron, Everett (roughing), 14:51; Chikie, Kelowna (roughing), 14:51; Grayson, Everett (fighting), 15:39; Goulbourne, Kelowna (fighting), 15:39; Walters, Everett (checking from behind), 17:41; Caron, Everett (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:41; Lyon, Kelowna (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:41; Bauml, Everett (high sticking), 18:23; McColgan, Kelowna (roughing), 20:00.
Third Period—4, Everett, Walters 6 (Bauml, Harrison), 2:05. 5, Kelowna, McColgan 12 (Lyon), 10:08. Penalties—Walters, Everett (tripping), 16:11; Caron, Everett (10-minute misconduct), 16:48.
Shots on goal—Everett 7-10-6—23. Kelowna 9-14-13—36. Power-play opportunities—Everett 1 of 3. Kelowna 1 of 7.
Goalies—Everett, Simpson 7-22-1-5 (36 shots, 34 saves). Kelowna, Brown 14-18-0-1 (23 shots, 20 saves).
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