EVERETT – This time the Everett Silvertips held on.
Hounded all season by the inability to hold on to third-period leads, the Silvertips rediscovered their late-game resolve Saturday night, holding off the Portland Winter Hawks 4-2 in a Western Hockey League game.
Everett (7-4-2-2) lost the previous two times it held a one-goal lead in the third period. But with goaltender Michael Wall making a series of key saves in the final two minutes, the Silvertips held on for victory.
“I think we really ended the weekend on a strong note, which I think we really needed to do to help our morale,” said Everett center Torrie Wheat, who scored two goals, including a late empty-netter. “We’ve blown quite a few one-goal leads this year in the third period and I think that was our main focus going into this game, to make sure we held that lead.”
Everett scored three power-play goals – by Wheat, Tyler Dietrich and Jeremy Creurer – and Wall finished with 27 saves.
Portland (7-7-0-1) had goals by Brandon Dubinsky and Cody McLeod.
It appeared Everett was getting the vapors again when, a minute after Wheat gave the Silvertips a 3-1 lead late in the second period, Portland pulled back within one on McLeod’s goal.
Everett limited Portland’s scoring chances in the first 18 minutes of the third period, then Wall lived up to his name in the final two. His best effort was a glove save on Michael Sauer’s shot from the slot. Wheat sealed the victory with his empty-net goal with 45.7 seconds remaining.
“I think as a group in the dressing room after the second period,” said Wheat, “we just looked at each other and said, ‘You know, we have to do this for each other. We have to start bearing down if we want to be a big team in this league.’”
Portland coach Mike Williamson was disappointed his team surrendered three power-play goals.
“Our guys did a poor job of losing position on people,” Williamson said. “That gives the opportunity for a penalty every time. Whether it’s embellished or not I guess could be argued. But there’s definitely things you can do to prevent them. If you don’t lose position you’re not in a situation to hook or trip someone or have someone maybe draw a penalty.”
Everett finished 3-for-7 on the power play. Portland was 1-for-6.
Everett took an early lead with a power-play goal 2:03 into the game. Dietrich skated in and had his backhander knocked behind the net by Portland goaltender Blake Grenier. However, Dietrich tracked the puck down and from behind the net banked a shot in off the back of Grenier to make it 1-0.
Portland soon tied the score. Everett was slow to get back, giving the Winter Hawks a three-on-two. Dan Da Silva, carrying the puck down the right, found Dubinsky on the left, and Dubinsky one-timed it in at 6:39, tying the score at 1-1.
Everett took the lead on the power play at 10:48 of the second period on Creurer’s first WHL goal. Michael Wuchterl’s pass through a defender’s legs released Derek Lewis for a powerful shot. Lewis’ shot was saved, but Creurer scored on the rebound to make the score 2-1.
The Silvertips scored on the power play again at 16:47, Wheat tipping in Shaun Heshka’s shot from the point, giving Everett a 3-1 lead.
But the two-goal lead was short-lived as Portland scored a power-play of its own less than a minute later. Cody McLeod received the puck with space in the right circle. He spun toward the goal and put his shot top shelf to cut the Silvertips’ lead to 3-2 at 17:46.
Slap shots: Everett winger Marc Desloges returned to the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Tri-City because of illness. … Portland’s roster was down to 21 players after European forwards Ivan Dornic and Martin Bucek returned home earlier this week because of a lack of playing time.
Silvertips 4, Winter Hawks 2
Portland110-2
Everett121-4
First Period-1, Everett, Dietrich 7 (Baranka), 2:03 (pp). 2, Portland, Dubinsky 4 (Da Silva, May), 6:39.
Second Period-3, Everett, Creurer 1 (Lewis, Wuchterl), 10:48 (pp). 4, Everett, Wheat 3 (Love, Heshka), 16:47 (pp). 5, Portland, McLeod 4 (Dubinsky, Sauer), 17:46 (pp).
Third Period-6, Everett, Wheat 4 (Kress), 19:14 (en).
Shots on goal-Portland 7-10-12-29. Everett 11-8-8-27. Power-play opportunities-Portland 1 of 6. Everett 3 of 7.
Goalies-Portland, Grenier 1-4 (26 shots, 23 saves). Everett, Wall 5-4-2 (29 shots, 27 saves).
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