Tips power past Americans

  • By Nick Patterson / Herald Writer
  • Friday, March 24, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

EVERETT – During the regular season, the Everett Silvertips had a script for just about every home game against the Tri-City Americans: get on the power play and score often.

Michael O’Leary / The Herald

Silvertips defenseman Jonathan Harty (right) battles Tri-City American Jaon Beeman during the first period of the Silvertips 4-0 victory in the two teams’ Western Hockey League first-round playoff game Friday night.

In the first game of the WHL playoffs the Silvertips followed that script to the letter.

Everett scored what amounted to four power-play goals, and the Tips opened their first-round series with a 4-0 victory over the Americans.

“The first game is always a nice one to win,” Everett captain Torrie Wheat said. “It’s not the deciding factor in a series, it’s one game out of seven and we need four to win the series. It feels good, but the work is definitely far from over.”

Taylor Ellington opened the scoring during a delayed penalty early in the second period – his first career goal – and John Lammers, Zach Hamill and Shane Harper added power-play goals for the Tips.

“We were really clicking,” Tips defenseman Shaun Heshka said about Everett’s power play. “I don’t know what it was. Maybe the guys were that much sharper because it’s a playoff game. But it really paid off for us today and that’s pretty much the reason we won.”

Leland Irving, appearing in the playoffs for the first time in his career, made 27 saves to earn the shutout in goal for Everett. Several of his biggest stops came during a lengthy Tri-City five-on-three power play that ended the second period.

But it was Everett’s power play that proved the difference. The Tips had a top power-play all season long, but Friday night they were as good as they’ve been. Everett moved the puck like it was on a zip line, and the Tips finished 3-for-5 with the advantage.

“Thank God because we didn’t really have much else going in our game,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “I thought our five-on-five play was way below our capability level, so thank God our power play was sharp.”

Everett’s power play was also the deciding factor between the two teams when they played at the Everett Events Center during the regular season. The Tips scored 17 power-play goals in those five games, winning all five.

“It was good tonight,” Tri-City coach Don Nachbaur said about Everett’s power play. “They had us running all over tonight. We didn’t get to any loose pucks and that was the key. They beat us to all the loose pucks and their puck movement was outstanding.”

As good as Everett’s power play was, it was a goal not considered a power-play goal that created the breakthrough.

Tri-City actually controlled much of the play during a scoreless first period, outshooting Everett 14-7. But early in the second period Everett was on a delayed penalty and played it just like a power play, with Irving pulled for an extra skater. The Tips played keep-away until Heshka got an open shot at the point. The puck deflected to the left slot, where Ellington was there to put it into an open net at 3 minutes, 30 seconds.

“I’ve been waiting a while, but I couldn’t have picked a better time for it to come,” Ellington said about his first goal in two seasons.

From there the floodgates opened. Everett scored on each of its remaining three power plays, all three goals coming as a result of good puck movement. Everett made it 2-0 at 13:41, Lammers scoring from the slot after a feed from Wheat. It was 3-0 at 16:42, when Hamill put in a rebound from a tight angle. The Tips added the fourth goal late, Harper tipping in a shot at the post from a nice feed from Hamill with 2:23 remaining.

Carey Price finished with 22 saves in goal for the Americans.

Slap shots: Everett apparently got hit by the flu bug at the wrong time as influential forwards Brady Calla and Ondrej Fiala were both scratched because of the ailment. Also, defenseman Cody Thoring, still bothered by a sprained ankle, did not play. … The Americans displayed solidarity for the playoffs by having every player bleach his hair. … Tri-City finished 0-for-4 on the power play.

Silvertips 4, Americans 0

Tri-City000-0

Everett031-4

First Period-No goals. Penalties-Mueller, Everett (tripping), 5:52; Fransoo, Everett (interference), 9:52; Jones, Tri-City (hooking), 14:25.

Second Period-1, Everett, Ellington 1 (Heshka, Wheat), 3:30. 2, Everett, Lammers 1 (Wheat, Heshka), 13:41 (pp). 3, Everett, Hamill 1 (Doyle, Fransoo), 16:42 (pp). Penalties-Inglis, Tri-City (delay of game) 10:12; Price, Tri-City (delay of game, served by Beeman), 12:46; Stephenson, Tri-City (tripping), 14:58; Ellington, Everett (hold stick), 18:09; Potuer, Everett (delay of game), 18:23.

Third Period-4, Everett, Harper 1 (Hamill, Kress), 17:37 (pp). Penalties-Stephenson, Tri-City (hold stick), 17:08.

Shots on goal-Tri-City 14-10-3-27. Everett 7-15-4-26. Power-play opportunities-Tri-City 0 of 4. Everett 3 of 5.

Goalies-Tri-City, Price 0-1 (26 shots, 22 saves). Everett, Irving 1-0 (27 shots, 27 saves).

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Jan. 26-Feb. 1

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Jan. 26-Feb. 1. Voting closes… Continue reading

Monroe’s Halle Keller drives to the hoop during the game against Snohomish on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 3

Stanwood, Snohomish, Monroe girls dominate.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak adds to staff

New play-caller for Seattle’s offense brings in familiarity from Saints.

Gonzaga slips in bracket projections after Saint Mary’s loss

Gonzaga slipped a few spots in the NET rankings and another spot… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.