Everett Silvertips Lose With Just 5 Seconds Left in Overtime

KENT – Connor Honey scored on a rebound with 4.6 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 3-2 win over the Everett Silvertips Sunday at the ShoWare Center.  Although the Thunderbirds moved closer to the Silvertips in the standings with the win, Everett earned one point to stay ahead of Victoria for seventh place in the WHL’s Western Conference.
Kohl Bauml and Josh Winquist scored goals for the ‘Tips in this evenly-played matchup, while Kent Simpson turned in another commendable effort with 46 saves in goal.  Everett trailed on two different occasions before tying the score, but lost in the extra session for just the second time this year on Honey’s late goal.
Seattle took the lead only 1:20 into the game during a scramble in front of Kent Simpson’s net, with Seth Swenson eventually stuffing the puck in to open the scoring.  Everett tied it later in the period as Cody Fowlie helped create a 2-on-1 chance with Kohl Bauml, drawing the defense toward him and then dishing in front to Bauml for the finish at 12:54.  Both teams sent 13 shots to the net in the first and the game was tied at one after one.
The Thunderbirds again jumped ahead with an early goal in the second period, this time when Branden Troock capitalized on a ‘Tips turnover by stepping out from behind the net and backhanding a shot over Simpson’s shoulder into the top corner.  Once again the Silvertips evened things up after Josh Birkholz raced to the front of Calvin Pickard’s net for a shot that was stopped, but Josh Winquist was there to poke in the rebound and knot the score at two.
The 2-2 deadlock remained throughout the rest of the second period and into the third, where the T-Birds turned up the pressure on their way to a 20-5 shot edge.  Simpson stopped each Seattle opportunity however as the game reached overtime.  It appeared a shootout was imminent when Dave Sutter drove the net and was stopped by Simpson, only to see Honey score on a deflected rebound shot to end it.
Kent Simpson (19-29-2-5) saw his personal four-game winning streak end despite the 46 saves, while Calvin Pickard (23-35-1-1) stopped 30 shots to take the win.  Everett went scoreless on three powerplay chances and held Seattle off the board on both of its opportunities.

Next up for the Silvertips is their final trip North of the Canadian border when they visit the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night at 7:05 pm.  The ‘Tips will then travel to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans Friday night before finishing the regular season back in Kent against the Thunderbirds on St. Patrick’s Day.