TALKING POINTS
We haven’t seen this script in a while, but it’s still familiar to those who have been following the Tips all season long. Everett, at home, had a comfortable two-goal lead going into the third period. Then the Tips imploded in the third, let the opposition back into the game, then let it slip away.
In truth, this was a pretty awful game through two periods. Both teams looked like they were just kind of going through the motions. Tri-City, without its leading scorer and with four defensemen unavailable, seemed resigned to its usual two-plus-goal defeat in Everett. Meanwhile, the Tips seemed to be bored with playing Tri-City for the third time in six nights. I can’t imagine the 40-plus NHL scouts in attendance were too impressed with what they saw through the first two periods.
Then midway through the third Tri-City scored and realized, ‘Hey, we can still win this thing,’ and went out and won the game. Everett needed an absolutely unbelievable solo effort from Nikita Scherbak to ensure a point, and I’m not sure the Tips even deserved that.
What I believe we saw tonight in the third is evidence of Everett’s depth issues. Midway through the second period Matt Fonteyne left the game after aggravating his lower-body injury. Then winger Dawson Leedahl didn’t come out to start the third because of illness. I’ve said all along that as long as everyone is healthy and available the Tips fit together pretty well, with everyone in the right role. But as soon as one or two of those pieces go missing things get out of whack quickly, as players just don’t seem ready or equipped to step into bigger roles at this stage of their careers. With the lines juggled to accommodate the absence of Fonteyne and Leedahl, the Tips forwards looked disjointed and confused.
The point means Everett’s lead atop the U.S. Division increased to seven points over Portland. However, I suspect that will be seen as small consolation by the Tips.
TURNING POINT
At 7:23 of the third period Everett was leading 2-0 and Tri-City, though playing a little better, didn’t seem all that threatening. But when Brandon Carlo shot from the right point, Everett goaltender Austin Lotz kicked out a long rebound into the opposite slot, allowing Brendan O’Reilly to come in and put away his first career WHL goal. Then, just 12 seconds later, the Americans tied it. Justin Gutierrez’s centering feed on the rush missed his intended target, but the puck continued on to the far post, where Lucas Nickles slammed it in. In the blink of an eye a two-goal Everett lead evaporated.
THREE STARS
First star: Scherbak. One goal and one assist. His goal, which made it 3-2, was out of this world. He circled the entire Tri-City zone, then danced through the whole Americans team before firing a shot from the slot that went bar down. You just don’t see goals like that at this level.
Second star: Brandon Carlo, Tri-City. Two assists, but I can’t say I noticed him a lot (which may be a good thing for a defenseman).
Third star: Remi Laurencelle, Everett. One goal and one assist, he’s the one guy who seemed to stay with the program for the Tips.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Eric Comrie, Tri-City. 23 saves, he made a couple stunners in the first period that prevented the Tips from running away with it.
BOX SCORE
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