TALKING POINTS
This was eerie.
The Tips and the Blazers squared off 11 days earlier at Xfinity Arena, and Wednesday’s game nearly followed the script from that game to a T. The Tips dominated the first period and took a 2-0 lead, just as they did on Nov. 15. Play evened out in the second period, just as it did on Nov. 15. Then Kamloops took the initiative in the third, just as it did on Nov. 15.
Even at the very end, with Kamloops goaltender Connor Ingram pulled for an extra attacker, the puck came free to Josh Connolly at the right point with seconds remaining, just as it did on Nov. 15. That time Connolly’s shot eventually led to the tying goal with just one second remaining. But this time Everett’s Logan Aasman slid across to block the shot before it could got to the goal mouth, and the Tips were able to run out the clock. It’s a good thing, too, because I don’t think I could have handled another 15-round shootout.
I think the injuries up front have caught up to the Tips. Everett played a fantastic first 10 minutes, and the Tips could have been ahead by more than two goals if not for a pair of stunning saves by Ingram. But with three top-nine forwards out, Everett’s remaining key forwards are having to log a lot of minutes, and those players seemed to wear down as the game went on. Kohl Bauml played a ton tonight, and every time he went out he seemed to have a different player on his left wing because there wasn’t anyone reliable available.
But the Tips held on, and as a result they swept their four-game season series with the Blazers. Check out what Everett goaltender Austin Lotz did in those four games:
1.22 – The GAA of @WHLsilvertips Austin Lotz (@lotzy30) in his 4 starts against Kamloops this season, saving 110 of 115 shots faced (.957)
— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) November 27, 2014
TURNING POINT
Once again the game had a definite arc. It was strongly in Everett’s favor in the first period, evened out in the second, then turned Kamloops’ way in the third. This time, however, it wasn’t as one-sided in the third as the Tips managed to prevent quality scoring chances until the final minutes.
THREE STARS
First star: Carson Stadnyk, Everett. One goal, and it was something special as he deked around one defender, held off another as he cut across the slot, then fired across the grain into the top corner. He was good all game.
Second star: Ingram. 27 saves, his two stunners on Bauml during Everett’s siege in the first period kept the game from getting out of hand.
Third star: Kevin Davis, Everett. One assist, played his usual game.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Cole Ully, Kamloops. One assist, how he wasn’t one of the stars is beyond me. Not only did he make a nice play to set up Kamloops’s goal, he was everywhere.
BOX SCORE
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