KENNEWICK — Alex Pechursky made a strong first impression on the Western Hockey League. The Everett Silvertips were his unfortunate victims.
The Tri-City Americans’ newest recruit recorded a shutout in goal in his WHL debut as the Americans overcame the Silvertips 1-0 Tuesday night.
Pechursky, a 19-year-old Russian who had been playing professionally in Europe, joined the Americans over the Christmas break. In his first appearance for Tri-City he turned away all 28 shots he faced.
Johnny Lazo scored the game’s lone goal as Tri-City (28-9-0-0), the top team in the Western Conference, once again blanked the Tips. Everett has been shut out five times this season, three of those coming at the hands of the Americans. The victory also stretched Tri-City’s winning streak to six.
Kent Simpson played a stellar game in net for Everett, making 39 saves. However, it wasn’t quite enough as the Tips (19-15-2-1) lost to Tri-City for the second time in three days.
Everett’s newest player, forward Clayton Cumiskey, made his Silvertips debut. Cumiskey was acquired Monday from Edmonton in a trade for forward Cameron Abney.
There were no goals in the first period, despite the teams combining for 29 shots on goal. Simpson in particular made several good saves among his 18 total, keeping the game scoreless.
The contest nearly made it through two periods scoreless as the goaltenders continued to shine, but the Americans broke through with just 1.7 seconds remaining in the second period. Tri-City received a late power play, the Americans’ first of the game, and Lazo fired a shot from the slot past Simpson to make it 1-0. Simpson had made another sterling save just moments earlier.
In the third period the Americans did a good job of limiting Everett’s offensive chances. Although the Tips were able to keep it a one-goal game, they were unable to generate enough offense to push across the tying goal.
Americans 1, Silvertips 0
Everett 0 0 0—0
Tri-City 0 1 0—1
First Period—no goals. Penalties—Hughesman, Tri-City (slashing), 4:13; Messier, Tri-City (goaltender interference), 13:08.
Second Period—1, Tri-City, Lazo 22 (Schmidt, Shinnimin), 19:58 (pp). Penalties—de la Lande, Everett (tripping), 18:48.
Third Period—no goals. Penalties—Froese, Everett (slashing), 0:04; Feser, Tri-City (cross checking), 0:04; de la Lande, Everett (cross checking), 1:14; Hunt, Everett (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:22; Reddick, Tri-City (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:22.
Shots on goal—Everett 11-10-7—28. Tri-City 18-14-8—40. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0-of-2. Tri-City 1-of-2.
Goalies—Everett, Simpson 9-7-1-0 (40 shots, 39 saves). Tri-City, Pechursky 1-0-0-0 (28 shots, 28 saves).
A—4,399.
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