EVERETT – They’re back.
These are the Everett Silvertips their fans have come to expect and adore.
The ones who use hard work and effort to completely stifle an opponent’s offense.
The ones who find ways to win despite a limited number of offensive chances.
The ones who were missing in action for much of January.
But now they’ve returned, and they confirmed that with a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday night in a Western Hockey League game.
“We went through a pretty bad spell there during January for a little while,” said Everett left wing Kyle Annesley, who scored both goals. “But we stuck together as a team and now we’re pulling through in a big way.
“It’s been more of a work-ethic thing,” Annesley added. “Every single guy is coming to the rink to play every single day the last few games and I think it’s really showed with winning.”
Michael Wall posted his ninth shutout of the season for Everett (24-21-6-2), which has won three straight and moved two points ahead of idle Portland for second place in the U.S. Division.
More importantly, Everett is back to playing their brand of hockey after a disastrous January, in which the Tips went 4-10 and at one point lost nine times in a 10-game stretch.
“I’ve thought for six games we’ve done the things we need to do,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “There’s lots of factors that go into winning and losing, but the things you do control – work ethic, fundamentals, team defense, etc. – those things for six games I thought we’ve been doing well. Sometimes when you’re not winning it takes a while to turn things around, even after you do things well. But it’s good to get some reward for working hard.”
Everett won despite managing just 12 shots on goal. However, two of the Tips’ first three shots found the net as Seattle goaltender Bryan Bridges suffered through a difficult night. Annesley’s first goal bounced off Bridges’ glove and into the net, the second snuck through the Seattle player’s legs. Bridges, who came into the weekend leading the league in every goaltending category, was pulled after the second goal in favor of Gavin McHale. Bridges has surrendered eight goals in his last three-plus periods.
“It wasn’t the start we wanted, obviously,” Seattle coach Rob Sumner said. “That wasn’t great for us. But with that aside, I thought we really stepped in and played.”
If Everett’s defense stymied the T-birds in the first period – holding Seattle to one shot – Wall was the story in the second. Seattle squeezed off 14 shots in the second period, but none made it through Wall. His best moments came midway through the period when he made a series of reaction saves on a T-birds power play.
Everett’s defense kicked in again in the third period, limiting the T-birds to three shots on goal.
Slap shots: Everett left wing Tyler Dietrich left in the first period and did not return because of a calf injury. He was scheduled to be re-evaluated today. … Saturday’s contest marked the 300th career WHL game for Everett captain Mitch Love. … Former Everett goaltender Jeff Harvey, who currently plays professionally for the Rockford IceHogs of the United Hockey League, was in attendance Saturday. … Everett defenseman Ryan Blatchford, who left Friday’s 2-1 victory at Tri-City after taking a hit, was back in the lineup Saturday. … Seattle played without two key overage forwards, captain Tyler Metcalfe and Nate Thompson. Both players picked up injuries during Friday’s 7-4 home loss against Portland.
Silvertips 2, Thunderbirds 0
Seattle000-0
Everett200-2
First Period-1, Everett, Annesley 5 (Dietrich), 3:09. 2, Everett, Annesley 6 (Hamill, Leavitt), 12:18 (pp).
Second Period-No goals.
Third Period-No goals.
Shots on goal-Seattle 1-14-3-18. Everett 3-5-4-12. Power-play opportunities-Seattle 0 of 4. Everett 1 of 3.
Goalies-Seattle, Bridges 27-13-0 (3 shots, 1 saves), McHale (9 shots, 9 saves). Everett, Wall 18-16-5 (18 shots, 18 saves).
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
