Silvertips can’t overcome 5-goal deficit as Portland takes 2-1 series lead

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Everett Silvertips were two minutes away from putting themselves in position to steal one on the road.

But the Portland Winterhawks’ quick-strike offense did its thing, and the Silvertips quickly saw the game get out of hand.

Portland scored two quick goals on either side of the second intermission, and the Winterhawks defeated the Tips 5-3 Thursday night at Memorial Coliseum to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored two goals to lead Portland in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score suggests. The Winterhawks outshot Everett 36-19 and led 5-0 before the Tips scored three times in the final four minutes to make the final scoreline deceiving.

Yet despite the tilted ice, Everett was just moments away from taking a scoreless tie into the third period.

“I liked how we started,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “I didn’t even mind our second period. When you go on the road and keep a game tight, I think it’s not bad. We made a mistake and gave them their first goal, I didn’t particularly mind that. But the lack of discipline we showed after that does bother me, because we needed to come out of that second period down 1-0 and not 2-0. We started to take really undisciplined penalties, so that part really disappoints me because (discipline) has been part of our success during the year.”

Nicolas Petan added a goal and two assists for Portland, while Anton Cederholm and Dominic Turgeon also found the net for the Winterhawks. Adin Hill earned the win in goal with 16 saves.

“I thought we started the right way, played the right way and finally broke through,” Portland coach Jamie Kompon said. “Their goalie was outstanding early and made some big saves and we held them at bay.”

Kevin Davis, Ivan Nikolishin and Graham Millar scored the late goals for Everett. Carter Hart stopped 30 of the 34 shots he faced in goal before being rested down the stretch. Austin Lotz stopped one of two in relief.

For nearly two full periods Portland had more of the puck, but Everett kept the Winterhawks contained, and the Tips were on the verge of taking a scoreless tie into the third. But then Portland broke the game open with two goals 23 seconds apart.

It began with 2:08 remaining in the second. A blown defensive assignment defending the rush left Cederholm all alone as he jumped into the play from his defensive position. Miles Koules found Cederholm with a centering pass, and Cederholm directed it past Hart to make it 1-0.

Just 14 seconds later Everett’s Nikita Scherbak took a tripping penalty, and Portland needed just another six seconds to double its lead. The puck was quickly worked to Petan at the top of the right circle. He cut toward the middle and rifled a shot past Hart to give the Winterhawks a sudden 2-0 lead.

It was more of the same for Portland early in the third period. Bjorkstrand got his first 3:22 into the period when he tapped Paul Bittner’s centering feed gently under Hart to make it 3-0. Then Bjorkstrand struck on the power play 1:47 later, blowing a one-timer from the right circle past Hart to give Portland a four-goal cushion.

Bjorkstrand and Petan, Portland’s stars who were kept relatively quiet in the first two games of the series, did most of the damage during that four-goal outburst.

“You have to keep them off the power play and you have to know their tendencies on the power play,” Constantine said about Bjorkstrand and Petan breaking through. “I thought we did an OK job five-on-five, but Bjorkstrand scored on the power play, Petan’s goal was on the power play. Our lack of discipline put those guys on the power play, and some mistakes penalty killing gave them wide-open opportunities. That was all part of us coming apart a little bit toward the end of the second and the start of the third.”

Lotz relieved Hart following the third-period media timeout, and Portland scored again shortly after as Turgeon intercepted a shot in front, then spun around Lotz at 14:27 to turn the game into an apparent rout.

Everett got three quick ones in garbage time. Davis scored with 3:55 remaining when his shot off the rush went straight through Hill, Nikolishin finished off a feed from Scherbak 1:32 later, and Millar chipped one over Hill on the rush from the ensuing faceoff to take a touch of the gloss off the victory for Portland.

Not that Constantine was taking any solace from the late goals.

“I think my least favorite sayings in hockey are, ‘Let’s go on the road to play two, and let’s go for a split,’ and ‘Hey, we had a good third period,’” Constantine said. “I don’t find anything in that at all. They had a 5-0 lead and let up a little bit. I’m glad our guys kept playing and trying, but that’s not where the game’s won. The game’s won when it’s 0-0, not when it’s 5-0.”

Slap shots

Everett welcomed winger Dawson Leedahl back to the lineup. Leedahl missed the previous five games because of injury. However, defenseman Noah Juulsen remained out, missing his third straight. … Portland made an adjustment to its top line. The Winterhawks finished Game 2 with Keegan Iverson replacing Paul Bittner on the line with Bjorkstrand and Petan. Iverson started with Bjorkstrand and Petan on Thursday.

Winterhawks 5, Silvertips 3

Everett 0 0 3—3

Portland 0 2 3—5

First Period—no goals. Penalties—none.

Second Period—1, Portland, Cederholm 1 (Koules, McKenzie), 17:52. 2, Portland, Petan 6 (De Leo, Henry), 18:13 (pp). Penalties—Leedahl, Everett (fighting), 10:27; Iverson, Portland (instigator-fighting-10-minute misconduct), 10:27; Scherbak, Everett (tripping), 18:06; Leedahl, Everett (cross checking), 19:00.

Third Period—3, Portland, Bjorkstrand 7 (Bittner, Petan), 3:22. 4, Portland, Bjorkstrand 8 (De Leo, Petan), 5:09 (pp). 5, Portland, Turgeon 6 (Koules), 14:27. 6, Everett, Davis 1 (Skrumeda, Aasman), 16:05; 7, Everett, Nikolishin 3 (Scherbak), 17:37. 8, Everett, Millar 1 (Aasman), 17:51. Penalties—Scherbak, Everett (tripping), 4:25; Schoenborn, Portland (cross checking), 5:27; Low, Everett (roughing), 9:46; McKenzie, Portland (roughing), 9:46; Betker, Everett (slashing), 9:57; Betker, Everett (roughing), 12:16.

Shots on goal—Everett 6-7-6—19. Portland 10-19-7—36. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 2. Portland 2 of 5.

Goalies—Everett, Hart 5-4 (34 shots, 30 saves), Lotz (2 shots, 1 saves). Portland, Hill 6-3 (19 shots, 16 saves).

A—5,518.

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

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

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

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck 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)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

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