EVERETT — It can be difficult to glean much from the first few weeks the Western Hockey League season because the league’s top players remain away at NHL training camps.
Still, every victory counts equally at the end of the season, and the Everett Silvertips remained unbeaten as they defeated the Giants 3-1 before 5,308 fans at Xfinity Arena Saturday night in Everett’s home opener.
It’s a promising start to be sure for the Tips (2-0-0-0, four points) who opened with a 7-4 victory Friday against the Giants (0-2-0-0) in Langley, B.C. But head coach Kevin Constantine still knows his team has a lot of improving to do.
“It’s just early to reach conclusions,” Constantine said. “Let everybody get their players back from NHL camps, let everybody go through the first 10 games and then start having an idea where the teams are going to stack up this year.”
Of positive note so far has been the performance of Everett’s young defensive unit. The Tips held Vancouver to 13 shots in the game and just eight through the first two periods while never trailing in the contest.
“I didn’t even notice that — I just kept playing the game,” said 19-year-old defenseman Kevin Davis, one of the returning veteran blueliners. “I think we did a good job of limiting their attacks and limiting their offensive zone play.”
That performance came following a third period Friday in which the Tips allowed nine shots.
Constantine preferred the consistency his team displayed Saturday.
“You acquire certain physical skills to be good at (athletics), but the game’s in your head,” Constantine said. “(Friday) night at 5-1 we changed the way we worked and competed, and gave up a lot of shots and chances. Tonight I think because the game was closer, mentally we weren’t allowed to do that. The goal is to be able to not even look at the clock, look at the shots (but) play your game, stay consistent with your game no matter what environment you’re in.”
Everett took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Vancouver took back-to-back penalties early in the third to give the Tips a 5-on-3 opportunity. Rookie forward Brett Kemp took advantage as he scored his first career goal with assists from Patrick Bajkov and Kevin to push Everett’s lead to 3-1 at 4:15 in the third.
“I kind of had nerves going into the game,” said Kemp, a native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. “After I scored the goal I kind of got the monkey off my back so it felt good.”
Matt Fonteyne broke a 1-1 deadlock at 18:13 when he flicked a wrister past Vancouver goalie Ryan Kubic’s right pad for a 2-1 lead and his first goal of the season. Davis and Bajkov assisted Fonteyne’s goal.
The Silvertips led 1-0 until late in the second period when Vancouver’s Jack Flaman scored off a rebound at 16:53 to tie the game at 1-1.
Graham Millar opened the scoring with his third goal of the young season. Lucas Skrumeda fired a wrister from the left circle that deflected to Connor Dewar at the left post. Dewar found Millar walking into the slot and Millar converted for a 1-0 lead at 3:30 in the opening period.
Kemp became the second Everett rookie to score his first WHL goal in as many nights, joining Bryce Kindopp who accomplished the feat Friday. Kemp admitted he noticed an uptick in game intensity from preseason to regular season.
“Everyone is competing harder,” Kemp said. “There are still cuts to be made so everyone wants to earn a spot on the team so the compete level is a lot higher than the preseason.”
Lasse Petersen earned the win in goal for Everett, finishing with 12 saves on 13 shots.
The Silvertips return to action Friday at Portland. The next home game is Wednesday, Oct. 5 against the Tri-City Americans.
Silvertips 3, Giants 1
Vancouver 0 1 0 — 1
Everett 1 1 1 — 3
1st Period-1, Everett, Millar 3 (Dewar, Skrumeda), 3:30. Penalties-Kindopp Evt (high sticking), 2:38; Hardy Van (tripping), 3:22; Wesley Van (cross checking), 19:13.
2nd Period-2, Vancouver, Flaman 2 (Ramsay, Brown), 16:53. 3, Everett, Fonteyne 1 (Davis, Bajkov), 18:13. Penalties-Bajkov Evt (cross checking), 6:15; Wylie Evt (tripping), 18:27.
3rd Period-4, Everett, Kemp 1 (Bajkov, Davis), 4:15 (PP). Penalties-Rattie Van (roughing), 3:09; Hardy Van (tripping), 3:59; DeRoose Van (major-fighting), 8:40; Onyebuchi Evt (major-fighting), 8:40; Wesley Van (roughing), 17:34; Bajkov Evt (inter. on goaltender), 18:48.
Shots on Goal-Vancouver 4-4-5-13. Everett 10-11-10-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Vancouver 0 / 4; Everett 1 / 5.
Goalies-Vancouver, Kubic 0-2-0-0 (31 shots-28 saves). Everett, Petersen 1-0-0-0 (13 shots-12 saves).
A-5,308
For latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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