Silvertips find a way to beat Medicine Hat

EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips were hammered by the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday night everywhere except where it mattered most.

Goaltender Daniel Cotton produced a stellar effort just when the Tips needed it most, and Everett came away with an unlikely 2-1 victory over Medicine Hat at Comcast Arena.

Everett was on the back heel throughout Sunday’s game, getting outshot 41-18. But Carson Stadnyk scored twice, including the game winner with less than eight minutes remaining, and the Tips somehow made the lead stand up.

“Well, let’s just say there’s no pictures on the scoresheet,” Everett coach Mark Ferner said. “We probably didn’t have a lot of business winning that game, but the kids found a way, and that’s an important thing. And our goaltending was real good tonight.”

The Tips (9-14-0-2) owe a big debt of gratitude to Cotton. Everett looked like a team gassed from playing its third game in three days nights, getting outskated and out worked by the Tigers. But Cotton, starting for the first time in 11 days, was there to pick up the slack. Cotton didn’t have many spectacular highlight-reel stops among his 40, but he was always in the right position to make the save.

“I was feeling comfortable,” said Cotton, who also credited his teammates for clearing rebounds and blocking shots. “The more you play the more comfortable you get. I hadn’t started in a few games so I just focused a lot and did my best to keep things simple.”

Curtis Valk scored the lone goal for Medicine Hat (11-13-1-0), which dropped its fourth straight. Cam Lanigan stopped 16 shots in net for the Tigers.

Sunday’s victory completed a dramatic turnaround for the Tips in their three-in-three weekend. Everett’s weekend seemed doomed for disaster following Friday night’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Victoria, a game that saw the Tips lose captain Ryan Murray to a dislocated shoulder. But the Tips ended up taking four points away from the weekend, and Everett finds itself back in playoff position in eighth place in the WHL’s Western Conference.

“Victoria was a tough trip for our group,” Ferner said. “Then we came back and responded with a good effort against Vancouver (winning 6-5 Saturday), and in this situation we were outplayed pretty bad but found a way to win. Good teams find ways to win and hopefully that will turn a corner for us. We need to shore up some areas, no question. Hopefully a lot of it was sheer exhaustion from the travel. But I’m happy for the kids, they found a way to win two real important games for us.”

Everett was holding on for dear life throughout the first two periods, despite Stadnyk giving the Tips the lead midway through the second. When the Tips began parading to the penalty box in the third, with Valk converting on a one-timer from the slot at 7 minutes, 34 seconds, it seemed Everett’s luck was about to run out.

But the Tips somehow found a way to put the puck in the net one more time. Landon Oslanski won a puck battle in the corner and fed it out front, where a cutting Stadnyk redirected it under Lanigan to restore Everett’s lead.

“It feels good to finally help out the team goal-wise,” said Stadnyk, who came into the game with one goal in 24 outings. “I couldn’t have done it without my linemates, though. They fed me the puck and I just had to put it in the back of the net.”

Everett played its best stretch following its second goal, but Medicine Hat received a golden opportunity with 1:27 remaining when Everett’s Manraj Hayer put the puck over the glass from the defensive zone for a delay-of-game penalty. The Tigers thought they’d put the puck in the net on Tyler Lewington’s shot with 54.3 seconds remaining, but a video review upheld the no-goal call, and the Tips held out the rest of the way.

The first period was all Medicine Hat as the Tigers outworked the Tips and outshot Everett 14-3. However, Cotton was solid in net and it remained scoreless going into the second.

Everett remained on the defensive in the second period, but the Tigers lacked the cutting edge in front of goal, and the Tips took an unlikely lead at 13:17. On the rare foray into Medicine Hat’s zone, Austin Adam’s wrister from the right point was deflected past Lanigan by Stadnyk to put the Tips ahead 1-0.

Slap shots

Everett continued to play without three key players as Murray, along with wingers Ryan Harrison (knee) and Joshua Winquist (mononucleosis), remain out because of physical ailments. … Medicine Hat was without star winger Hunter Shinkaruk. The 18-year-old Shinkaruk, who has 35 points in 24 games and is projected as a first-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft, suffered a 14-stitch gash in his knee during Saturday’s 5-2 loss at Portland. Also missing was winger Miles Koules. The 18-year-old Koules, a former Everett property who has 16 points in 24 games, suffered an ankle injury against Portland.

Silvertips 2, Tigers 1

Medicine Hat001—1

Everett011—2

First Period—no goals. Penalties—Labelle, Medicine Hat (holding), 8:52; Everett bench (too many men, served by Low), 11:21.

Second Period—1, Everett, Stadnyk 2 (Adam, Cox), 13:17. Penalties—Pearce, Medicine Hat (cross checking), 14:13; Stadnyk, Everett (slashing), 16:59; Cox, Everett (roughing), 18:50.

Third Period—2, Medicine Hat, Valk 16 (Pearce, Cox), 7:34 (pp). 3, Everett, Stadnyk 3 (Oslanski, Mappin), 12:43. Penalties—Lofthouse, Everett (tripping), 3:12; Cox, Medicine Hat (tripping), 5:22; Cox, Everett (holding), 7:12; Foulk, Everett (tripping), 9:47; Hayer, Everett (delay of game), 18:33.

Shots on goal—Medicine Hat 14-14-13—41. Everett 3-8-7—18. Power-play opportunities—Medicine Hat 1 of 7. Everett 0 of 3.

Goalies—Medicine Hat, Lanigan 9-5-0-0 (18 shots, 16 saves). Everett, Cotton 6-4-0-0 (41 shots, 40 saves).

A—3,632.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.