Everett Silvertips Must Beat Seattle Tonight or Playoff Hopes are Over

KENNEWICK – The Everett Silvertips competed right through the final minute before suffering a 4-1 defeat to the Tri-City Americans in their second-to-last game of the season Friday night at the Toyota Center. Friday’s results mean Everett must defeat the Seattle Thunderbirds in their season finale Saturday at ShoWare Center to have a chance to qualify for the 2012 WHL playoffs. Meanwhile, Tri-City clinched the U.S. Division title and the #1 seed in the Western Conference with the win.

Reid Petryk scored the lone goal for Everett, who surrendered only one tally to the high-scoring Americans through over 55 minutes of play. The ‘Tips came on strong in the third period with 17 shots, but Ty Rimmer made a number of key saves to keep the Silvertips at bay before being named the game’s first star.

Each team had a powerplay in the first period and both goalies made at least one quality save to keep the game scoreless. Tri-City finished with a 12-6 shot edge in the opening frame and the teams went to the locker room with no scoring through 20 minutes.

The deadlock remained through most of the second period as well before Jordan Messier finally opened the scoring for Tri-City at 14:32. Messier perfectly re-directed Adam Hughesman’s shot from the boards over Kent Simpson’s shoulder and under the crossbar to put the Americans on top 1-0. Everett came close to tying the game twice after that, but Ty Rimmer stopped Josh Winquist on a shorthanded breakaway and Reid Petryk’s deflection of a Ryan Murray shot caromed off the post as the Americans took a 1-0 lead into the third.

The ‘Tips pressured Tri-City throughout the final 20 minutes, generating numerous chances and tying the game when Reid Petryk’s quick shot off a faceoff found the back of the net with six minutes left. The Americans re-took the lead less than two minutes later however, with Zachary Yuen burying an open wrist shot from the low slot to make it 2-1. Adam Hughesman scored another deflection goal off Brendan Shinnimin’s shot at 17:52 to extend the lead and then added his 50th of the season into an empty net in the final minute to seal Tri-City’s 4-1 victory.

Kent Simpson (19-31-2-5) finished with 35 saves as Everett was outshot 39-31, while Ty Rimmer (31-11-1-1) made 30 saves and was beaten only once. The ‘Tips missed on their only powerplay chance of the game and held the Americans off the board on all three of their chances.

The Silvertips will now return to Western Washington for a must-win game against the Seattle Thunderbirds in their regular season finale Saturday night in Kent. Pending the result of Seattle’s game against Portland on Sunday, a Silvertips win over the Thunderbirds Saturday could either put the ‘Tips in the playoffs or force a one-game playoff vs. Seattle next week to determine the eighth-place finisher in the conference. A loss to the T-Birds Saturday would eliminate Everett from playoff contention. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 pm at ShoWare Center; with live radio coverage on Fox Sports 1380 AM starting at 6:30.