KENNEWICK — Goaltender Austin Lotz recorded his first career shutout and the Everett Silvertips ended a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Tri-City Americans 3-0 Friday night.
Everett was mired in a rut. The Tips were missing key players to injury, and were weary as they played their seventh game in 11 nights. But Lotz played a strong game in goal Friday, stopping all 34 shots he faced to carry the Tips to victory.
Trent Lofthouse, Kohl Bauml and Stathis Soumelidis scored goals, while Mirco Mueller and Ryan Harrison each had two assists for Everett (7-13-0-2), which also ended a stretch of futility against Tri-City. The Tips came into the game having lost all four games against the Americans this season, and Everett hadn’t won at Tri-City since the 2010-11 season. The Tips are now off for a week before resuming play next Friday at Victoria.
Eric Comrie finished with 22 saves in goal for Tri-City (12-7-1-1), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Everett was outshot 15-6 in the first period, but the Tips took the lead with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining in the period. Mueller’s shot from the point was deflected in by Lofthouse to make it 1-0.
The Tips picked up their play in the second period, and Everett doubled its lead 47 seconds in. While skating four-on-four, Mueller’s shot from the point rebounded off the end boards, and Bauml put home the rebound to make it 2-0.
Lotz came up big early in the third period, denying Marcus Messier on a breakaway. Then the Tips put the game away at 11:55. Everett won a face-off in the Tri-City zone, and Soumelidis outfought the Tri-City defense in front to bang the puck home, making it 3-0.
Silvertips 3, Americans 0
Everett111—3
Tri-City000—0
First Period—1, Everett, Lofthouse 4 (Mueller, Harrison), 18:20. Penalties—Mappin, Everett (tripping), 2:03; Mueller, Everett (slashing), 15:00; Leedahl, Everett (roughing), 19:00; Plutnar, Tri-City (roughing), 19:00.
Second Period—2, Everett, Bauml 8 (Mueller, Harrison), 0:47. Penalties—Leedahl, Everett (hooking), 12:47.
Third Period—3, Everett, Soumelidis 2, 11:55. Penalties—Soumelidis, Everett (fighting), 2:57; Hamonic, Tri-City (fighting), 2:57; Walters, Everett (interference), 19:46; MacDonald, Everett (delay of game), 19:52.
Shots on goal—Everett 6-10-9—25. Tri-City 15-7-11—34. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 0. Tri-City 0 of 5.
Goalies—Everett, Lotz 2-7-0-1 (34 shots, 34 saves). Tri-City, Comrie 11-7-1-1 (25 shots, 22 saves).
A—3,667.
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