PORTLAND, Ore. – The Everett Silvertips head into the Christmas break wondering when the next win is going to come.
Portland’s Alex Aldred scored the tying goal with less than eight minutes remaining, and the Silvertips had to settle for a 1-1 tie with the Winter Hawks on Saturday night in a Western Hockey League game.
Everett (17-10-6-2) is winless in its last five games (three ties, two losses) as the Tips break for the holidays. And it doesn’t get any easier when play resumes Dec. 28 at home against Spokane. Everett will be without seven players for the first four games after the break because of the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships and the U-17 World Hockey Challenge.
Torrie Wheat scored a power-play goal for Everett and Michael Wall performed miracles in goal for the Tips, making 35 saves. Wall was particularly sharp in the third period, when Portland outshot Everett 18-6. For the game the Tips were outshot 36-20.
Everett is 4-1-2 against the Winter Hawks this season.
Dustin Butler finished with 19 saves in goal for Portland (14-15-3-4).
Everett took the lead with a power-play goal at 7:37 of the first period. Alex Leavitt faked a shot and found Wheat open down low. Wheat’s first shot was saved by Butler, but Wheat put in his own rebound to make it 1-0 with his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
The game remained 1-0 until midway through the third period when Portland’s pressure finally found a way past Wall. The Winter Hawks put a series of shots on goal, forcing Wall into several good saves. However, Brandon Dubinsky eventually found Aldred open in the slot and Aldred scored to tie it 1-1 at 12:14. It was Aldred’s fifth goal of the season.
Everett nearly stole the game late in regulation when Mitch Love’s shot from the point took a deflection in front and smacked off the post.
Silvertips 1, Winter Hawks 1
Everett1000-1
Portland0010-1
First period-1, Everett, Wheat 14 (Wuchterl, Leavitt), 6:37 (pp).
Third period-2, Portland, Aldred 5 (Dubinsky), 12:14.
Shots on goal-Everett 6-6-6-2-20. Portland 5-9-18-4-36. Power-play opportunities-Everett 1 of 3. Portland 0 of 6.
Goalies-Everett, Wall 12-9-5 (36 shots, 35 saves). Portland, Butler 11-14-3 (20 shots, 19 saves).
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