KENNEWICK — The Everett Silvertips are officially mired in the worst slump in franchise history.
Everett suffered a franchise record 11th straight defeat when the Tips fell 6-2 to the Tri-City Americans on Friday night.
Everett’s previous record for consecutive losses was 10, which was suffered last season. The Tips haven’t tasted victory since winning 3-2 at Prince George on Jan. 25.
Justin Feser had two goals and two assists, and former Silvertip Jesse Mychan also scored twice to lead Tri-City (35-22-1-2), which won its fourth straight. Mitch Topping and Beau McCue scored the other goals for the Americans, who took full advantage of their power plays, going 3-for-5.
Troy Trombley, who spent training camp and the preseason with the Tips before being released, earned the win in goal for Tri-City. Trombley made 23 saves.
Tyler Sandhu and Austin Adam scored for Everett (21-35-1-4). Austin Lotz, returning after missing nine games because of a sprained ankle, finished with 23 saves in net for the Tips before being removed midway through the third period. Daniel Cotton saved all three shots he faced in relief.
Everett remained three points ahead of Prince George for the eighth and final playoff berth in the WHL’s Western Conference. The Cougars lost 6-2 to Portland on Friday.
Everett got off to a dream start, scoring 31 seconds into the game when Sandhu tipped in Adam’s shot from to point to stake the Tips to an early 1-0 lead. Adam and Joshua Winquist were credited with the assists, both of whom returned to the lineup Friday after lengthy periods on the sidelines because of injury/illness.
But it was all Tri-City after that. The Americans tied it on the power play at 15:59, Feser one-timing a feed from Mitch Topping past Lotz to knot it at 1-1.
The Americans then broke the game open with three goals in five minutes late in the second period. Feser finished off a nice passing move in transition to give Tri-City the lead at 12:17. The Tips failed to clear while killing a penalty, and Topping put a shot into the corner at 15:40. Then McCue put home a rebound at 17:07, giving the Americans a 4-1 lead.
Mychan made it 6-1 in the third with two goals in eight minutes. Adam scored a consolation goal for Everett in the game’s final second.
Americans 6, Silvertips 2
Everett101—2
Tri-City132—6
First Period—1, Everett, Sandhu 12 (Adam, Winquist), 0:31. 2, Tri-City, Feser 36 (Topping, Stromwall), 15:59 (pp). Penalties—Plutnar, Tri-City (checking from behind), 6:45; Skapski, Everett (kneeing), 9:59; Oslanski, Everett (slashing), 15:17; Sandhu, Everett (slashing), 17:30.
Second period—3, Tri-City, Feser 37 (Mychan, Stromwall), 12:17. 4, Tri-City, Topping 11 (Feser), 15:40 (pp). 5, Tri-City, McCue 15 (Bowles), 17:07. Penalties—Mychan, Tri-City (cross checking), 4:13; Topping, Tri-City (high sticking), 5:24; Stadnyk, Everett (slashing), 14:22; Petryk, Everett (slashing), 19:28.
Third Period—6, Tri-City, Mychan 14 (Stromwall, Yuen), 0:38 (pp). 7, Tri-City, Mychan 15 (Feser, Nickles), 8:05. 8, Everett, Adam 1(Winquist), 19:59. Penalties—Plutnar, Tri-City (slashing), 10:27.
Shots on goal—Everett 7-9-9—25. Tri-City 12-10-10—32. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 4. Tri-City 3 of 5.
Goalies—Everett, Lotz 12-16-1-1 (29 shots, 23 saves), Cotton (3 shots, 3 saves). Tri-City, Trombley 4-0-0-0 (25 shots, 23 saves).
A—5,991.
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