Silvertips skate past Thunderbirds

Kukuca, Wedman score in 5-2 loss to Everett

February 2, 2019 7:30 am
The Thunderbirds’ Andrej Kukuca tries to advance the back past fallen Silvertip Connor Dewar during WHL action at the accesso ShoWare Center on Friday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

The Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 Friday night at the accesso ShoWare Center in the first game of a home-and-home series between the Western Hockey League teams.

Seattle and the Kamloops Blazers are tied for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Seattle (19-23-5-1) took a 1-0 lead at 14:51 of the first period. Andrej Kukuca’s forecheck down the right boards forced a turnover that Noah Philp was able to corral. Philp skated around the net and found Simon Kubicek at the high point. Kubicek took a slap shot with Kukuca in front of Everett goalie Dustin Wolf that missed the net and rebounded off the end boards. Kukuca spun from in front of the net and swatted the puck past Wolf at the left post as the puck came off the boards.

Everett (36-12-1-1) tied the game 1-1 on an unassisted shorthanded goal by Bryce Kindopp at 16:37 of the second.

Kindopp scored a power-play goal 26 seconds into the third period to give Everett a 2-1 lead. Zack Andrusiak and Connor Dewar had the assists. Kindopp scored a five-on-three power-play goal at 6:42 of the third to make it a 3-1 Silvertips lead. Andrusiak and Dewar had the assists.

Seattle cashed in on their own five-on-three power play to cut the Silvertips lead to one goal at 8:11 of the third. Kukuca had the puck at center ice and passed it to Noah Philp to the left of the net. Philp quickly moved the puck through the low slot to Matthew Wedman to the right of the net. Wedman beat a lunging Wolf high for his 23rd goal of the season.

Dawson Butt scored at 14:11 of the third and Zack Andrusiak at 15:23 to get Everett’s final two goals.

Seattle goalie Roddy Ross had 33 saves on 38 shots, and his record is now 6-2-0-1. Wolf made 29 saves on 31 shots, and his record is 32-11-1-0.

Series continues

The T-Birds and Silvertips meet in the second game of a home-and-home series on Saturday at Angel of the Winds Arena at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

Fans who purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Holmes, Evt (charging), 1:08. Holmes, Evt (slashing), 15:31.

Second period – 1, Seattle, Kukuca 13 (Kubicek, Philp), 14:51. 2, Everett, Kindopp 26, 16:37 (sh). Penalties – Wedman, Sea (tripping), 2:33. Dewar, Evt (roughing), 16:27. Wedman, Sea (slashing), 19:16.

Third period – 3, Everett, Kindopp 27 (Andrusiak, Dewar), :26 (pp). 4, Everett, Kindopp 28 (Andrusiak, Dewar), 6:42. 5, Seattle, Wedman 23 (Philp, Kukuca), 8:11 (pp). 6, Everett, Butt 9 (Holmes, Christiansen), 14:11. 7, Everett, Andrusiak 35 (Berezowski, Seeley), 15:23. Penalties – Tyszka, Sea (tripping), 4:38. Richards, Sea (tripping), 6:08. Williams, Sea (major-fighting), 6:55. Patterson, Evt (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), 6:55. Minulin, Evt (boarding), 7:32. Wedman, Sea (checking to the head), 9:02. Butt, Evt (10-minute misconduct), 15:38. McNelly, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 15:38.

Shots on goal – Seattle 14-9-8 31, Everett 5-17-16 38. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 38 shots-33 saves (6-2-0-1); Everett, Wolf 31-29 (32-11-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Everett 2-5. A – 4,513. Referees – Brett Iverson, Brett Roeland. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Michael McGowan.