EVERETT — Dominic Zwerger and Lasse Petersen have a personal history that includes stints as teammates both with the Spokane Chiefs and Everett Silvertips.
Wednesday it was Zwerger who got the best of his former teammate as he scored twice against Petersen in Everett’s 4-1 win over the visiting Rebels before 2,657 fans at Xfinity Arena.
Turns out Zwerger doesn’t spend much time thinking about who faces the Tips in the other net — even if it’s a former teammate.
“I think we just have to put pucks on net and make good things happen,” Zwerger said. “No, I don’t (think about it).”
The win was the fourth straight for the U.S. Division-leading Tips (12-2-2-0, 26 points). Red Deer (8-7-1-1, 18 points) has lost four straight following a six-game winning streak.
Zwerger battled illness in recent weeks, but Wednesday’s performance was more typical of the player who had a WHL-best 10-game point streak earlier this season.
“I thought he rebounded in the second and third (periods) of his last game and he carried that over into tonight, and to me was our most valuable guy,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said. “Those goals were important.”
Patrick Bajkov scored Everett’s second goal and assisted both of Zwerger’s goals to finish with a three-point evening. The duo also saw the return of linemate Matt Fonteyne who had an assist in his first game back after missing eight contests.
“With a player like that obviously you’re always missing him,” Bajkov said of Fonteyne. “It’s good to have him back. I thought he played a solid game tonight, so obviously that’s positive.”
The Silvertips wasted little time finding the net against Petersen. Zwerger scored first on a wrister from the top of the left circle just 26 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead. The Tips have now scored first in 12 of their 16 games this season.
“It’s a big help scoring the first goal and getting the momentum going on your side,” Bajkov said. “It’s always a positive, so hopefully we can keep doing that.”
Bajkov pushed the advantage to 2-0 when he circled behind the net and stuffed the puck inside Petersen’s right blocker at 2:13.
“We haven’t been a real good starting team for 10 games,” Constantine said. “We haven’t been a bad starting team in that we haven’t given teams a whole lot… But we haven’t been real dynamic offensively either at the start. That was good.”
Zwerger’s second goal of the night pushed it to 3-0 when he flicked the puck past Petersen from the slot on the power play at 6:53 in the second.
Michael Spacek got one back for the Rebels at 14:07 when he scored from the left circle as Everett took a 3-1 lead into the final period.
Eetu Tuulola converted a penalty shot at 11:11 in the third for the final tally in the lone matchup between Everett and Red Deer this season. Everett holds a 10-4 edge over the Rebels in 14 meetings.
“We don’t know Red Deer as we know our own divisional opponents, but most of the time in hockey you’re addressing the last game as much as you’re addressing your opponent,” Constantine said. “You’re doing a little bit of both. Tonight was about getting a little better start than we had the previous game.”
Everett goaltender Carter Hart saved 27 of the 28 shots he faced to pick up his ninth victory of the season. Petersen fell to 2-2.
The Tips return to action at 7:05 p.m. Saturday when they play host to the Portland Winterhawks.
Silvertips 4, Rebels 1
Red Deer 0 1 0 – 1
Everett 2 1 1 – 4
1st Period—1, Everett, Zwerger 5 (Bajkov), 0:26. 2, Everett, Bajkov 6 (Fonteyne, Wylie), 2:13. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (tripping), 4:51.
2nd Period—3, Everett, Zwerger 6 (Bajkov, Dewar), 6:53 (PP). 4, Red Deer, Spacek 9 (Hagel), 14:07. Penalties—Sakowich Rd (holding), 2:26; Bobyk Rd (roughing), 5:49; Bajkov Evt (kneeing), 18:59.
3rd Period—5, Everett, Tuulola 4 11:11 (PS). Penalties—Spacek Rd (tripping), 13:05; Juulsen Evt (tripping), 15:24; Jerome Rd (holding), 18:40.
Shots on Goal—Red Deer 10-11-7-28. Everett 10-14-8-32.
Power Play Opportunities—Red Deer 0 / 3; Everett 1 / 4.
Goalies—Red Deer, Petersen 2-2-0-0 (32 shots-28 saves). Everett, Hart 9-2-1-0 (28 shots-27 saves).
A—2,657
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