WHL US DIVISION – Everett Silvertips notebook: Tips’ struggle to find consistency on the road.

Everett began a stretch of four games in five days last Tuesday against the Kootenay Ice. The Silvertips seemed to have solved their offensive woes by scoring nine goals in their previous two games. Unfortunately for Everett, they were unable to match that level of offensive production, scoring nine goals on the road trip.

Defeated Kootenay 2-0

This proved to be the easiest matchup of the trip, as the Kootenay Ice were struggled for offensive production.  Just 35 seconds in the game Everett would have the opportunity to strike first when Cale Fleury was given two minutes for a cross check. The Silvertips would be unable to capitalize on the man advantage, however. Despite three more power play chances, the game remained scoreless after one period with Everett heavily outshooting Kootenay 18-7. At the 14:50 mark in the second period Everett would have another shot at a power play and would cash in.

Dario Winkler received a pass across from Devon Skoleski and wristed one in for his second goal of the season. After two periods Everett would lead 1-0. At 13:00 in the third, Tanner Lishchynsky would be called for boarding and Everett would receive their sixth chance on the power play. Dario Winkler would send a pass across to Dawson Leedahl who was alone in front of the net and buried the puck past Declan Hobbs. The Silvertips would go on to win 2-0. Carter Hart stopped 16 of 16 shots for his fourthshutout of the season.

Lost  to Lethbridge 4-3

Everett returned to action the following night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. There were two storylines to this matchup: 1.) Remi Laurencelle playing against his former team for the first titome in Lethbridge; and 2.) Goaltender Mario Petit making his first career start in net. A turnover by Lethbridge in the neutral zone would case a foot race between Brady Reagan and Graham Millar, with Millar winning and making a quick pass to Devon Skoleski, who beat Jayden Sittler to put Everett up 1-0 at 10:31. After one period the Silvertips would lead 1-0 with shots even at 13.

At 2:13 the Hurricanes would tie the game with Cory Millette tapping in a deflection that was out of reach for Petit. Lethbridge would increase their lead six minutes later when Egor Babenko roofed a backhander over the shoulder of Petit. Everett would tie the game at 13:23 with Remi Laurencelle connecting a pass with Yan Khomenko who got one past Sittler. The Hurricanes would go back on top when Babenko toe dragged past two Everett defenders to score his second goal of the night.

Due to a slashing penalty called at the very end of the second period, Everett was on the power play to begin the third period. With less than 40 seconds remaining on the power play Everett would turn the puck over which led to a shorthanded goal from Millette. Everett would cut the lead to one at 15:59 when Noah Juulsen blasted a slap shot past Sittler. Everett was unable to score the equalizer, however. Mario Petit took the loss and stopped 25 of 29 shots in his debut.

Lost to Medicine Hat 2-1

After a day off Everett would square off against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Carter Hart returned starting in net. Everett would have the first chance on the man advantage when Ty Schultz was given a penalty for hooking at 14:39. With less than ten seconds remaining on the power play Dawson Leedahl would connect on a pass to Riley Sutter and give Everett the 1-0 lead. After one period Everett led 1-0 and shots were 8-7 in favor of the Silvertips. Everett would have a chance to build their lead when Ty Stanton was given two minutes for elbowing at 9:40.

Unfortunately for Everett, nine seconds in the power play Noah Juulsen would lose possession of the puck which led to a breakaway goal by Chad Butcher. For the second straight game Everett would give up a shorthanded goal. Remi Laurencelle would be called for a slash at 18:16 which led to a power play goal from Cole Sanford and gave Medicine Hat the 2-1 lead. After two periods Everett was outshot 13-17.

Everett would get their chance to tie the game when Mason Shaw was called for a trip at 3:04. The Silvertips were unable to convert on the power play. The Silvertips pulled Hart to have an extra attacker with 1:25 remaining in the game but could not score the equalizer. Hart stopped 23 of 25 shots in the loss.

SO Lost to Calgary 4-3

Everett would square off against the Calgary Hitmen for their road trip finale. The Silvertips would get on the board first with Remi Laurencelle burying a goal from a Carson Stadnyk pass at 4:27. Devon Skoleski would be given a double minor at 12:17 for a high stick, resulting in a four minute power play for Calgary. Carsen Twarynski would help Calgary tie the game sending a wrister past Carter Hart at 14:53. After one period the game was tied with Calgary outshooting Everett 8-6.

Everett would retake the lead at 7:59 when Graham Millar scored off a broken pass deflection. The Silvertips would take the 2-1 lead into the third period outshooting Calgary 17-14. Everett would get a power play opportunity at 6:25. They responded, as Matt Fonteyne would bury a one timer to give Everett a two goal advantage. Calgary would not go away, however. At 9:31 the Hitmen would get a goal from Jordy Stallard to cut the Silvertips lead to one. Less than a minute later Calgary would strike again when Colby Harmsworth snapped a shot past Hart's shoulder.

After three periods the game was tied 3-3 and was heading to overtime. Calgary outshot Everett 23-22. No team would score the go-ahead goal in overtime and shots were even 4-4. Everett would head to the shootout for second time this season. The Silvertips would send out Riley Sutter, Carson Stadnyk, and Devon Skoleski with none being able to convert. Radel Fazleev would be the lone contributor in the shootout for Calgary. The Silvertips dropped a heartbreaker to Calgary and finished 1-2-0-1 for three points on the road trip. Carter Hart stopped 24 of 27 shots in the shootout loss.

Carter Hart continued his strong play in net on the trip stopping 63 of 68 shots while posting a 1.66 GAA and 0.926 SV%. Remi Laurencelle has eight points in the last six games and leads Everett with six goals and sixteen points.

More Tips News

The NHL Central Scouting players to watch for 2016 draft list was just released and two Silvertips made the list. Patrick Bajkov is ranked "C" skater which indicates he would be a fourth-sixth round pick candidate and Carter Hart was ranked a "B"  which indicates a second or third round candidate.

Former Tips' captain Landon Ferraro was claimed off waivers and made his debut for the Boston Bruins on Monday recording an assist.