TALKING POINTS
For 30 minutes the Chiefs did to Everett what the Tips did to Spokane last Saturday at Comcast Arena, forechecking the the Tips into the ground to build a 4-1 lead. Everett finally got on track after Spokane’s fourth goal and made a game out of it, but the deficit proved too great to overcome. The loss was Everett’s first at home in the new year after 10 straight victories.
Everett was thus knocked out of second place in the U.S. Division as Portland won 5-2 at Prince George. In the race for second in the division, Portland now leads Everett by two points, with Spokane another three points back. The Winterhawks have played two more games than the Tips and Chiefs.
Everett again rotated goalies, with Kent Simpson getting the start even though Thomas Heemskerk had a shutout Wednesday against Kelowna. Simpson lasted less than 12 minutes after allowing three quick goals. Heemskerk was solid in relief, but he gave up what proved to be the game-winning goal and ended up with a tough-luck loss.
Spokane also mixed things up in goal, with Michael Tadjdeh getting the start after No. 1 James Reid was pulled in Spokane’s previous two visits to Comcast Arena. Tadjdeh has far better numbers against Everett this season than Reid. I’ll be curious to see who the Chiefs send out Monday in Spokane, and if the trends continue it might make for some interesting speculation should these teams match up in the first round of the playoffs.
This is also parents weekend for Everett, so the players’ families are in town. I don’t have any records available, but it’s been mentioned before that the Tips have traditionally not played well in front of their parents. The first 30 minutes of tonight’s game suggest that’s still the case.
TURNING POINT
Everett defensemen Rasmus Rissanen and Radko Gudas took somewhat careless penalties two minutes apart midway through the first period. Spokane’s power play toyed with the Tips on both occasions, scoring within 32 seconds each time to gain a comfortable 3-1 lead.
HIT OF THE DAY
Early in the third period Spokane’s Levko Koper was skating the puck into the Everett zone when he was leveled by Radko Gudas.
THREE STARS
First star: Tyler Johnson, Spokane. One goal and two assists, he was the catalyst for Spokane’s first-period domination.
Second star: Ryan Murray, Everett. Two goals off two accurate slap shots.
Third star: Jared Spurgeon, Spokane. One goal and one assist, a nice weapon to have at the right point on the power play.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Jared Cowen, Spokane. No points, but won a ton of battles in his own zone. I also could have sworn he had a tip on the redirect on the goal awarded to Johnson.
BOX SCORE
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