Silvertips turn away Thunderbirds 3-2

Volcan, Strand score for playoff-bound Seattle in loss to Everett

March 11, 2018 9:30 am
The Thunderbirds’ Nolan Volcan tries to fire the puck past Silvertips goalie Carter Hart during WHL play Saturday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

For the Reporter

The Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 Saturday night at the accesso ShoWare Center in the last regular-season game between the teams.

Seattle (32-25-8-2), which clinched a playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over Spokane on Friday, is in the second wild-card position of the Western Conference. They are three points behind the first-place wild card team, the Tri-City Americans, who have a game in hand on the T-Birds.

The T-Birds travel to Spokane to play the Chiefs at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. They have a home-and-home series with the Portland Winterhawks on Friday and Saturday. They are in Portland on Friday at 7 p.m. before returning to Kent ice for a 7:05 p.m. game on Saturday (JOEtv Channel 22/Cable 110).

They finish out the regular season against the Americans on Sunday, March 18, at 5 p.m.

T-Birds playoff tickets for the first round of the playoffs will go on sale on March 15.

Everett (45-18-2-3) took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Matt Fonteyne at 3:41 of the first period. Garrett Pilon and Patrick Bajkov had the assists.

The Silvertips took a 2-0 lead at 13:38 of the first on a goal from Bryce Kindopp. Reece Vitelli and Martin Fasko-Rudas had the assists.

Seattle cut the Silvertips lead to one goal on the power play at 11:03 of the second period. Jarret Tyszka took a wrist shot from center ice that rebounded to the right of Everett goalie Carter Hart. Nolan Volcan got the rebound and took a shot from the left circle. Volcan got his own rebound and skated around the Everett net and passed the puck to Donovan Neuls in the right circle. Neuls sent the puck back to Volcan on the goal line. Volcan skated at Hart and beat the goalie between the legs for his 31st goal of the season.

Seattle outshot Everett 16-9 in the second period and led 25-22 in shots after 40 minutes.

Kindopp scored a second goal at 15:02 of the third period to put the Silvertips in front 3-1. Jake Christiansen and Kevin Davis had the assists.

Seattle pulled goalie Liam Hughes with 2:24 left in the third for an extra attacker. Turner Ottenbreit took a slap shot that was blocked in the slot. Neuls got the loose puck and found Austin Strand at center ice inside the blue line. Strand took a wrist shot with traffic in front of Hart and beat the goalie low for his 24th goal of the season.

The T-Birds pulled Hughes a second time with one minute left in the game. They had good pressure in the offensive zone but were not able to secure the tying goal.

Everett outshot Seattle 15-10 in the third period and 37-35 in the game.

Hughes had 34 saves, and his record is 14-11-5-1. Hart had 33 saves, and his record is 29-4-1-3.

Order tickets online or at the ShoWare box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Everett, Fonteyne 33 (Pilon, Bajkov), 3:41 (pp). 2, Everett, Kindopp 21 (Vitelli, Fasko-Rudas), 13:38. Penalties – Katzalay, Sea (tripping), 2:36.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Volcan 31 (Neuls, Tyszka), 11:03 (pp). Penalties – Strand, Sea (tripping), 3:38. Kindopp, Evt (hooking), 9:30. Vala, Evt (major-cross checking, major-fighting, game misconduct), 19:29. Ottenbreit, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), 19:29.

Third period – 4, Everett, Kindopp 22 (Christiansen, Davis), 15:02. 5, Seattle, Strand 24 (Neuls, Ottenbreit), 17:56. Penalties – Strand, Sea (slashing), 13:45. Dewar, Evt (goaltender interference), 13:45.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-16-10 35, Everett 13-9-15 37. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 37 shots-34 saves (14-11-0-1); Everett, Hart 35-33 (29-4-1-3). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Everett 1-2. A – 6,039. Referees – Mike Campbell, Mark Pearce. Linesmen – Brett Mackey, Michael McGowan