KENNEWICK — The postgame reaction by the Everett Silvertips following Saturday’s 5-2 Game 5 loss to the Tri-City Americans was virtually the same as a week earlier after a 5-3 loss in Game 2.
“We have to do a better job of (playing desperate),” Everett head coach Dennis Williams said. “We know we’re going to get their best and I didn’t think we gave our best. … Not to take anything away from (Tri-City’s) game — they came in and got what they needed and they definitely weathered the storm after that (first) seven seconds.”
In both loses the Silvertips were out-worked and out-hustled by an Americans squad that played with greater resolve, and after each contest the Tips acknowledged that fact. In Game 2, the Americans sought to avoid an 0-2 series hole. In Game 5, Tri-City successfully staved off elimination to force Game 6 Monday night at the Toyota Center. The faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
The first seven seconds to which Williams referred were the opening seconds of Game 5, during which the Tips won the opening faceoff, took off down the ice and grabbed a 1-0 lead when Connor Dewar buried a rebound on the second shot of the game.
Scoring that quickly may have been a mixed blessing. The Americans regrouped and ended up out-shooting the Tips 10-7 for the period before taking the lead for good with two goals in the second stanza.
“I think some guys sat back after that, but I thought it was important to get the building into the game right away,” Dewar said. “We just want to go there (Monday night), play a simple game and be more desperate than them.”
The Tips ended Game 5 with a 37-24 shot advantage, but Tri-City goaltender Patrick Dea was nearly unbeatable after Everett’s early goal. The overage netminder finished with 35 saves to earn his second victory in the series.
“He’s a good goalie and played really well,” Everett captain Matt Fonteyne said. “We need to play a full 60 minutes. I think we had some chances and then we had a shift off, or two shifts off and just a mental lapse and that kind of set us back. I think we need to be more consistent throughout the game.”
“Playing the full 60” was a common refrain from the Tips following their Game 2 loss. They did exactly that in Game 3 when they seemingly took control of the series with a convincing 8-4 win.
“We’ve been in situations where we’ve lost games and we’ve come back with a good response, and it’s going to be a good challenge for us,” Williams said.
Williams also said the Tips need individual players to step up, echoing a call he made following Game 2. Everett responded with a Game 3 victory in which Patrick Bajkov recorded a hat trick.
Everett also needs a better effort from goaltender Carter Hart. The two-time defending WHL goalie of the year — who will likely win his third straight honor during the league awards Wednesday — allowed three relatively soft goals Saturday after thoroughly shutting down the Americans on Thursday in Kennewick.
There are a couple of silver linings to take from Saturday’s disappointing defeat.
First, the Tips held Tri-City’s potent power play scoreless in four attempts. That comes after Everett held the Americans scoreless in three power-play chances in Game 4.
Second, the Tips are undefeated on the road during the postseason. Granted they dispatched both the Seattle Thunderbirds and Portland Winterhawks in five games, but the 6-0 road record bodes well for Monday night’s game.
“I think we need to take a step back, take a look at what we did well in this game and look at what we need to fix moving on to Tri-City,” Fonteyne said. “They play well in their building, but we just need to bring our energy and play our game and just kind of worry about our details and staying on top of them.”
If necessary, Game 7 will take place Tuesday at Angel of the Winds Arena.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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