Everett Silvertips U.S. Division Champs – 1st Two Playoff Games Next Friday and Saturday

Silvertips playoffs

The Silvertips are hosting the first two playoff games this weekend at Xfinity Arena.

The Everett Silvertips have made it to the playoffs every year they’ve been in existence. The last few years have seen them get in on the lower end of the division but this year the ‘Tips are going into the playoffs as division champs. In case you missed it, here’s the official re-cap of Saturday night’s game and you can click here for info. on buying playoff tickets right now.

The Everett Silvertips suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Victoria Royals Saturday night at XFINITY Arena, but gained a point to clinch the 2015 U.S. Division title.  In conjunction with a Portland Winterhawks loss, the point gained earned the ‘Tips the fourth division title in franchise history and first since 2007 to pit Everett against the Spokane Chiefs in the first round of the 2015 WHL Playoffs.

Graham Millar, Remi Laurencelle and Matt Fonteyne each found the back of the net for Everett in front of over 7,900 fans.  Ben Betker and Brayden Low each picked up assists in the final regular season home game of their junior careers, while Nikita Scherbak, Jake Mykitiuk and Kevin Davis tallied the remaining helpers.  Goaltender Carter Hart (18-5-2-3) turned away 24 of 27 shots faced for Everett before Victoria took the win in the fourth round of the shootout.

The Silvertips killed off a penalty early in the first to hold off the Royals in the early minutes.  On a Silvertips powerplay later in the frame, a broken stick created a shorthanded opportunity for Victoria, but goaltender Carter Hart shut the door to keep the game scoreless.  Nikita Scherbak found himself on a partial breakaway for a great scoring chance for Everett that yielded no results.  The Royals turned momentum in their favor late in the period on a goal from Taylor Crunk to take a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Despite the late goal for Victoria, the Silvertips came out strong to start the second period.  Hard work paid off as Jake Mykitiuk found Graham Millar in front for a backhand score to tie the game for Everett.  The ‘Tips came close to taking the lead after a shot from Noah Juulsen circled around the top post, but evaded the back of the net.  Remi Laurencelle then gave the Silvertips their first lead of the game, stuffing a wraparound try underneath the pads of Victoria goaltender Justin Paulic.  Following a rush of penalties for both teams, the ‘Tips took back-to-back minors where Victoria then tied the game at two on a Joe Hicketts goal.  With nine seconds remaining in the frame, Scherbak found Matt Fonteyne in the slot for a score to give the Silvertips a 3-2 lead heading into the third.

The ‘Tips went on an early powerplay in the third, but couldn’t score to extend their lead.  Midway through the period, Taylor Crunk scored his second goal of the game to once again tie the game for Victoria.  Kohl Bauml was stopped by Paulic on a penalty shot and Carter Hart made some crucial saves for Everett late in the third as regulation expired.  Shots were even at 25 heading into overtime.  Hart and the Everett penalty-killing unit stood tall for the ‘Tips in overtime after the Royals were awarded a 4-on-3 powerplay.  The game was eventually decided in a shootout, where Ivan Nikolishin scored the lone goal for Everett as the Royals had a 2-1 edge over four rounds for a 4-3 victory.

Victoria goaltender Justin Paulic (14-15-1-1) stopped 23 of 26 shots in net.  The Silvertips’ powerplay went 0 for 4 on the night while the penalty killing unit was 5 for 6.

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