TALKING POINTS
It’s already been a rough season for the Tips, so this really doesn’t change anything. But tonight Everett reached a new low with its ninth straight loss, making this the longest losing streak in franchise history. The previous worst was an eight-game skid suffered in January of 2009.
A familiar script and a lot of familiar culprits for the Tips tonight. Everett was in it going into the third, trailing just 2-1 and holding its own against the Western Conference leaders. However, it was another bad third period for Everett and that’s become a trend. The Tips have been outscored 53-20 in the third this season, and it’s 17-2 during the losing streak. Also, Everett was woeful on the power play, going 0-for-4. I’m pretty sure the Tips had more clear-cut scoring chances while short-handed than they did on the power play.
Just to add a cherry on top, Tips winger Cody Fowlie was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind late in the third period. He faces a likely suspension for that one.
It was interesting to see Everett’s Josh Birkholz sporting a “C” on his jersey tonight. Birkholz had been an alternate all season long, including while captain Ryan Murray was out injured. I guess this means the Tips expect Murray, who departed Saturday for Canada’s tryouts for the World Junior Hockey Championships, to be gone for a while.
As for Tri-City, I found it interesting to see winger Justin Feser, one of the team’s top offensive players, spending the final two periods as a defenseman. Feser played on the blue line because key defensemen Zach Yuen and Mitch Topping were scratched.
TURNING POINT
Early in the third period Everett was presented with a power play while trailing 2-1. However, the Tips spent the entire advantage skating back to their own end to retrieve cleared pucks. Then 18 seconds after the power play expired, Tri-City’s Patrick Holland rushed the puck up the left and banked a shot off Everett goaltender Kent Simpson’s skate and in at the near post. That sequence sucked the life out of the Tips.
HIT OF THE DAY
Midway through the first period Fowlie blew up Drydn Dow with a face-to-face hit as Dow turned into the blow.
THREE STARS
First star: Holland. Two goals, had his hat trick taken away when video showed Brian Williams’ shot late in the second period went in instead of off the crossbar.
Second star: Brendan Shinnimin, Tri-City. One goal and one assist, skated rings around the Everett defense.
Third star: Fowlie. One assist, set up Everett’s lone goal.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Dow. One assist, held up well to an expanded role with the Americans short on D.
BOX SCORE
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