PORTLAND, Ore. — With a three-goal lead late in the second period, the Everett Silvertips appeared well on their way to a three-games-to-none lead over the Portland Winterhawks in their best-of-seven Western Hockey League first-round playoff series.
But the Winterhawks wouldn’t be slain so easily. Three quick scores in the final seven minutes of the second period drew Portland within one as the game shifted to the third.
Everett goaltender Mario Petit then withstood a 13-shot barrage from Portland in the final period and Matt Fonteyne’s empty-netter from deep in the Everett defensive zone with 26 seconds to play sealed the game as the Tips topped Portland 5-3 to go up three games on the Winterhawks before 6,401 fans at the Moda Center.
This marks the first time Everett has gone up 3-0 in a series since its first-ever playoff series against Spokane in 2004 that resulted in a sweep.
The Silvertips took a seemingly commanding 3-0 advantage on Remi Laurencelle’s goal at 6:53 in the second. Then things got interesting.
The Winterhawks reached the scoreboard for the first time at full strength in the series when Caleb Jones skated into the slot and left the puck for the trailing Rihards Bukarts. The Tips-killer then flicked it past Petit to make it 3-1 at 13:23.
Everett appeared to regain momentum when Brycen Martin’s point shot past a screened Hill pushed the lead back to 4-1 at 15:24.
But Alex Schoenborn converted a centering feed from Bukarts at 16:45 and Cody Glass added a tough-angle score at 18:17 as Portland drew within 4-3 at the end of the second period.
Everett killed off two third-period penalties to preserve the lead. Fonteyne was sent to the box for tripping at 8:15, and Laurencelle went to the box for high-sticking at 18:13. Portland then pulled goalie Adin Hill for a sixth skater, but that backfired with Fonteyne’s empty-netter.
Lucas Skrumeda set up Everett’s first goal with a blocked shot. Fonteyne played the puck to Patrick Bajkov, who then flicked it past Hill as Everett took the 1-0 lead just 1:04 into the game.
Laurencelle then found Dawson Leedahl for the deflection past Hill with just 18 seconds remaining in the opening period, and the Tips took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Laurencelle added his own goal on the power play following a rebound of Carson Stadnyk’s shot at 6:53 in the second period to push Everett’s lead to 3-0.
Petit, making his seventh straight start for the injured Carter Hart dating back to the regular season, finished with 28 saves on 31 shots to improve to 3-0 in the postseason.
Hill had 20 saves on 24 shots to fall to 0-3.
Everett will go for the sweep at 7 p.m. Wednesday when Game 4 begins at the Moda Center.
Silvertips 5, Winterhawks 3
Everett 2 2 1 — 5
Portland 0 3 0 — 3
1st Period—1, Everett, Bajkov 1 (Fonteyne, Skrumeda), 1:04. 2, Everett, Leedahl 3 (Laurencelle, Stadnyk), 19:42. Penalties—King Evt (hooking), 8:58; Hughes Por (checking from behind), 15:40.
2nd Period—3, Everett, Laurencelle 2 (Stadnyk, Juulsen), 6:53 (PP). 4, Portland, Bukarts 2 (Jones), 13:23. 5, Everett, Martin 1 (Davis, Skoleski), 15:24. 6, Portland, Schoenborn 1 (Bukarts, Jones), 16:45. 7, Portland, Glass 1 (Abols, Dougherty), 18:17. Penalties—Bukarts Por (hooking), 3:19; Texeira Por (delay of game), 5:12; Martin Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:27; Schoenborn Por (high sticking), 12:27.
3rd Period—8, Everett, Fonteyne 2 19:34 (EN). Penalties—Fonteyne Evt (tripping), 8:15; Laurencelle Evt (high sticking), 18:13; Abols Por (slashing), 19:41.
Shots on Goal—Everett 10-8-7-25. Portland 9-9-13-31.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 1 / 4; Portland 0 / 3.
Goalies—Everett, Petit 3-0-0-0 (31 shots-28 saves). Portland, Hill 0-3-0-0 (24 shots-20 saves).
A—6,041
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