TALKING POINTS
The Tips’ game winner was made in Russia tonight.
Everett’s Russian duo of Ivan Nikolishin and Nikita Scherbak combined on the overtime game winner. The Tips were on a four-on-three power play, and just as it expired Scherbak cut left across the high slot, then whipped a pass to the back door that Nikolishin one-timed behind Seattle goaltender Taran Kozun to send the enthusiastic Pink the Rink crowd of 7,654 home happy.
The Tips started the extra period on the power play thanks to a high sticking penalty called on Seattle’s Justin Hickman with 1:21 remaining in regulation. Here’s what Seattle coach Steve Konowalchuk had to say about the call, and about the officiating in general, after the game:
“I am so tired of the officiating in this league. I can’t find it on the tape, I can’t find it. I asked my player honestly, ‘Did you touch him?’ He said, ‘My stick was up, I didn’t touch him.’ You’ve got a guy at the red line calling it, the guy in the corner doesn’t call it. The first (penalty) of the game they grab our guy’s stick and fall. The officiating has got to get better, it’s atrocious.”
Overall, the game had a somewhat similar feel to Friday’s game against Tri-City, though not to the same degree. Everett didn’t dominate the first period, but the Tips did have more of the puck, yet fell behind 1-0. Then the Tips scored in the third period when Seattle had more of the puck. Go figure.
Finally, hats off to the community for it Pink the Rink efforts. A total of $85,917 was raised for the Providence Regional Medical Center for the fight against breast cancer, the most the Tips have ever raised at a Pink the Rink game. Good work Silvertips fans!
TURNING POINT
The Hickman penalty probably was the decisive moment, but there was a sequence earlier in the third period that was just as big. Midway through the third, with Seattle leading 1-0, Everett defenseman Cole MacDonald fumbled the puck at the blue line, presenting Seattle’s Scott Eansor with a short-handed breakaway. Tips goaltender Austin Lotz made the save to keep it a one-goal game. Then later during the power play MacDonald made amends. He received the puck at the center point in space, glided toward goal, the picked out the right corner to tie the score, giving Everett its chance to win in overtime.
THREE STARS
First star: Lotz. 24 saves, he had to make some good saves during the final 25 minutes.
Second star: Kozun. 28 saves, made the stops he had to.
Third star: Kohl Bauml, Everett. One assist, also had some big (and painful) shot blocks.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Eansor. One goal, I don’t understand how he’s not an all-star as he seems to play great every time I see him against Everett. He was everywhere tonight.
BOX SCORE
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