PORTLAND, Ore. — The Everett Silvertips’ dismal start to the season seemed well on its way to being extended.
Enter Jordan Mistelbacher.
Mistelbacher rescued Everett, scoring three straight goals — the first three of his Western Hockey League career — during a seven-minute span of the third period, and the Silvertips came from two goals down to defeat the Portland Winter Hawks 5-3 Saturday night.
Jesse Burt also scored and Brennan Sonne added an empty netter for Everett (2-5-0-0), which avenged its defeat to Portland at home the night before. Leland Irving made 21 saves in goal for the Tips, including a huge stop with a minute left and Everett clinging to a one-goal lead.
Nick Hotson, Tyler Swystun and Kevin Undershute scored for Portland (1-5-0-0) and Kurtis Mucha made 37 saves in goal.
Everett trailed 3-1 after two periods, and it looked bleak as the Tips spent the entire first portion of the third on the penalty kill.
But then the Tips found gold in the form of Mistelbacher.
Mistelbacher notched his first career goal at 6 minutes, 36 seconds when, on the power play, he tipped in Dan Gendur’s shot from the point to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Then Mistelbacher tied it up at 9:31, again on the power play, as Kyle Beach wrapped a pass around the post for Mistelbacher to put behind Mucha to tie it up.
Mistelbacher then completed his hat trick at 13:52. This time the Tips were on a five-on-three power play when Gendur sent a cross-crease pass for Mistelbacher to slam in at the far post.
Sonne polished off the comeback with 44 seconds remaining, shoveling the puck the length of the ice into an empty net.
Everett got into all kinds of penalty trouble early, taking three penalties in the span of 1:31 to give Portland an eternity of five-on-three, and the Winter Hawks took advantage. At 2:53 Todd Panchyson’s wrister from the right point deflected in off Hotson, and for the second straight night Portland took a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes.
But unlike Friday’s game, Everett was quickly able to get back on even terms. Mike Alexander’s shot from the left point went in off Burt at 10:43 to make it 1-1.
However, the fates were not with Everett in the second period as the Tips outshot the Winter Hawks 15-4, but were outscored 2-0. Swystun scored at 5:32, tipping in a shot by Lucas Alexiuk to make it 2-1 with Portland’s first shot of the period. Then at 16:41 Undershute broke free two-on-one while short-handed and beat Irving with a shot, making it 3-1. It was the second straight night the Tips gave up a goal on the power play.
Everett right wing Matt Ius went down hard after a hit by Portland’s Bo Montgomery in the game’s opening minutes and did not return.
Silvertips 5, Winter Hawks 3
Everett104—5
Portland120—3
First Period—1, Portland, Hotson 1 (Panchyson, McLaren), 2:53 (pp). 2, Everett, Burt 2 (Alexander), 10:43. Penalties—Ellington, Everett (slashing, fighting), 1:07; Montgomery, Portland (fighting), 1:07; Crowley, Everett (roughing), 1:52; Harty, Everett (cross-checking), 2:38; McLaren, Portland (hooking), 11:06; Beach, Everett (diving), 15:18; Ponich, Portland (cross-checking), 15:18; Swystun, Portland (high sticking), 16:21.
Second Period—3, Portland, Swystun 3 (Alexiuk, Walker), 5:32. 4, Portland, Undershute 2 (Panchyson), 16:41 (sh). Penalties—Crowley, Everett (roughing-roughing), 8:39; Swystun, Portland (roughing), 8:39; Walker, Portland (slashing), 8:58; Ariss, Portland (holding), 15:29; Hotson, Portland (holding), 16:54.
Third Period—5, Everett, Mistelbacher 1 (Gendur, Harty), 6:36 (pp). 6, Everett, Mistelbacher 2 (Hamill, Beach), 9:31 (pp). 7, Everett, Mistelbacher 3 (Gendur, Hamill), 13:52 (pp). 8, Everett, Sonne 1, 19:16 (sh-en). Penalties—Karamnov, Everett (cross-checking) 1:23; Sonne, Everett (elbowing), 3:06; Beach, Everett (delay of game), 4:00; Walker, Portland (interference), 5:56; Panchyson, Portland (hooking), 8:37; Jordan, Portland (interference), 12:28; Schmermund, Portland (tripping), 13:07; Mistelbacher, Everett (hooking), 18:05.
Shots on goal—Everett 12-15-15—42. Portland 7-4-13—24. Power-play opportunities—Everett 3 of 9. Portland 1 of 8.
Goalies—Everett, Irving 2-4-0-0 (24 shots, 21 saves). Portland, Mucha 1-4-0-0 (41 shots, 37 saves).
A—3,339.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
