TALKING POINTS
There’s two ways of looking at this one.
On the one hand, this was a crucial victory for the Tips. Everett needed to salvage something from this weekend, and the Tips needed to end their three-game losing streak, especially following Saturday night’s 7-0 disaster at Seattle. The Tips not only managed that, they held onto a one-goal lead late in the third period with a minimum of drama, which hasn’t been something Everett has managed to do the past two weeks.
On the other hand, this one never should have been close. The rout was on in the first period as Everett jumped out to a 4-0 lead. But a soft goal just seven seconds after the Tips took their four-goal lead, followed by the officials trying to even up the power plays early in the second period, turned it back into a contest as Lethbridge got back within one.
On balance, however, I think the manner of the victory was the most important thing for the Tips. Everett played pretty well for most of the game, outshooting Lethbridge 39-23, and that was important following Saturday’s fiasco. Everett also hadn’t been able to close out games recently, allowing the tying goal in the final moments of regulation in four of their previous six outings. From a psychological standpoint the Tips needed to re-experience how it felt to close out a close game, and they managed to do that this evening.
Portland didn’t play today, so Everett increased its lead atop the U.S. Division to five points. The Winterhawks have one game in hand.
TURNING POINT
It’s not often I write about officiating, but the officials turned this game. Everett recovered from giving up that soft goal in the first and was playing well at the start of the second. However, the Tips received a 4-1 advantage in power plays in the first period, including a five-on-three on which Everett scored on both ends, and it seemed the officials came out in the second with the intent of evening things up. Remi Laurencelle was whistled for a holding call that seemed pretty light, then 34 seconds later Lucas Skrumeda was called for a ridiculous cross check on a play that happens during just about every board battle. Lethbridge scored on the five-on-three, and Ben Betker was given a cross checking penalty following the goal to put the Hurricanes right back on the five-on-three. Lethbridge didn’t score on the second five-on-three, but the Hurricanes did score on the ensuing five-on-four to make it 4-3. That penalty sequence completely changed the game, and the Tips did not respond well afterward as Everett was fortunate to get out of the second still leading.
THREE STARS
First star: Nikita Scherbak, Everett. One goal and two assists, broke out of a slump that saw him held scoreless in four straight.
Second star: Kohl Bauml, Everett. Two assists, both on nice primary feeds.
Third star: Jamal Watson, Lethbridge. One goal and one assist, and probably should have drawn a hooking penalty with about a minute left as he tried to split the defense.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Dawson Leedahl, Everett. One goal, it was a crazy one where he reached his stick between his legs to get the shot off, and he was also good on the penalty kill.
BOX SCORE
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