WHL US DIVISION – Everett Silvertips Notebook: ‘Tips earn six out of eight points.

Everett began their week with a Wednesday night matchup at home against the Portland Winterhawks on February 3. They welcomed Kamloops Friday, then hit the road and ferry for games at Seattle and Victoria. Everett would be without the service of leading scorer Remi Laurencelle for the first two games. Laurencelle was in the middle of a three game suspension for a hit on Seattle Thunderbirds Jerett Smith.

Defeated Portland 3-1

Everett has struggled this season against the Winterhawks, going 2-4 in their six matchups. The Silvertips have also struggled to keep Rihards Bukarts of the scoresheet. Bukarts has scored four goals while adding an assist in his two games as a Winterhawk against Everett.

At 5:05 in the first period Portland would get a goal from none other than Bukarts. Carter Hart attempted a pass from behind the net, only to have it stolen by Bukarts, who then fired the puck in before Hart could get back in goal. Portland led 1-0 after the first period while Everett held a slight shot advantage 9-7.

At 4:50 in the second period Portland would receive a bench minor for too many men and Everett would have the game's first power play. Everett would capitalize and even the game at one at 6:05 with a power play goal from Dawson Leedahl. Leedahl would send a wrister by the left circle that snuck past Adin Hill. Colton Veloso would be called for checking from behind at 16:33 giving Everett another power play opportunity.  The Silvertips would get another power play goal, this time from Connor Dewar at 17:17. Dewar was able to put away a rebound that Hill initially stopped from a Graham Millar shot.

The lead would not last long thanks to a goal from Dominic Turgeon at 18:37. Hart made two quick saves but Turgeon was able to bury it on the third attempt and even the game up. After two periods things were knotted at two with Everett holding the shot advantage 10-9.

Late during the third period Everett would get a go-ahead goal from Brian King. King sent a shot from a left circle that beat Hill and would be the game winner. Carter Hart stopped 22/24 shots in the win.

Defeated Kamloops 4-3

Everett would not have the service of their top two scorers; Laurencelle sitting out the third and final game of his suspension and Carson Stadnyk who was scratched due to an upper body injury. Dawson Leedahl would play on a line with Patrick Bajkov and Matt Fonteyne. "Everyone is a little different but when you have guys that are skilled it's pretty easy," said Dawson Leedahl about playing with new line mates. "You just make passes in the areas and they're gonna get it."

Early during the first period Kamloops had a great scoring opportunity but were robbed by Carter Hart who made a spectacular glove save. Dario Winkler would help get Everett on board first at 12:42 in the first period. Ingram stopped Cole MacDonald's wrap-around attempt but Winkler was able to deflect it in, giving the Silvertips a 1-0 lead. "We had lots of enfaces on our start today, it was a big thing to get the first goal," said Leedahl. Everett would remain ahead 1-0 after the first period despite being outshot 11-8 by Kamloops.

Early in the second period, Bajkov would add to Everett's lead. Bajkov would score off a deflection from a Leedahl shot by the left circle. Less than two minutes later Leedahl would get a goal of his own beating Ingram on a backhander. At 17:29 Kamloops would cut the Silvertips lead down to two goals. Hart stopped a couple shots from Kamloops but was unable to cover the puck, allowing Gage Quinney to get one past the line. Everett would remain on top 3-1 after two periods while heavily outshooting Kamloops 15-5.

Fonteyne beat Ingram stick side with a shot and would help Everett regain their three goal lead at 9:47 in the third period. "Playing with Patty (Bajkov) and Daws (Leedahl) tonight, it really helped. They're great players. They work really hard and created a lot of chances and they just happened to go in tonight," said Fonteyne about his three point night.

Despite a three-goal lead, Kamloops would make the game interesting. Graham Millar would be given a penalty for charging at 15:09.  17 seconds later Deven Sideroff would score on the power play. Dawson Leedahl would be called for a trip at 18:54 and Kamloops would pull Ingram for a six on four advantage. Sideroff would score again on the power play at 19:24 and right after Bajkov was given a penalty for hooking. Everett would manage to survive 36 seconds of a six on four penalty kill and hang on for a 4-3 win. Carter Hart stopped 27/30 shots in the win.

Defeated Seattle 4-1

Tensions were already high in this one even before the puck was dropped. Remi Laurencelle returned to the lineup after serving a three game suspension for a hit on T-birds captain Jerret Smith. After warmups Luke Osterman skated to Everett's exit to exchange some words with the Silvertips.

15 seconds into the game and gloves were already dropped. Dawson Leedahl and Cavin Leth would exchange blows before taking a seat in the penalty box. After sitting out for a game with an upper body injury, Carson Stadnyk returned and would help Everett strike first. Stadnyk would beat Landon Bow with a wrap-around and give Everett the 1-0 lead at 10:16.

Stadnyk was not finished. At 14:43 he would put away a rebound down by the right circle giving Everett a 2-0 lead. After one period Everett would remain on top 2-0 despite being outshot 8-5.

Jared Pelechaty was called for interference at 6:01 and Everett would take advantage with a power play goal from Graham Millar. Millar put away a rebound that beat Bow glove side. Not long after Bow would leave the game with an apparent injury.

After two periods the Silvertips would lead 3-0 even while being outshot 10-7. At 2:45 in the third period Seattle would break the goose egg with a goal from Brandon Schuldhaus. Millar would get his second of the night at 15:26 beating Logan Flodell glove side that would seal the win for Everett. Carter Hart stopped 23/24 shots to pick up his league-leading 3firstwin of the season.

Loss to Victoria 4-6

Everett squared off against the Victoria Royals for the first time this season in a Monday matinee matchup. The Silvertips were playing without their captain Dawson Leedahl, who injured his hand blocking a shot during the game against Seattle.

There was no scoring during the first period while Victoria had the slight shot advantage 8-7.

Tristen Pfeifer would be called for a trip at 1:38 in the second period. Then Cole MacDonald was also called for a trip at 2:25 leaving Everett with a 5-on-3 penalty kill. The Royals would strike first with a power play goal at 2:42. Tyler Soy blasted a one timer by the right circle past Carter Hart. Carson Stadnyk would help tie the game at 9:05 with a goal scored from the high slot.

A little over a minute later, Victoria would regain the lead from Soy's second goal of the night. 21 seconds later Connor Dewar would put in a rebound from a Stadnyk shot and the game was knotted up again at two. Everett would take the lead at 14:24 when Brycen Martin zipped a wrister from the hash marks to beat Griffen Outhouse stick side. ‘Tips would lead after the high scoring second period 3-2 despite being outshot 9-15.

Everett would come out aggressive at the start of the third period looking to increase their lead. Unfortunately an unlucky bounce left Matthews Phillips with a breakaway opportunity that he cashed in to tie the game for a third time at 1:52. Everett would retake the lead at 9:57 with a power play goal from Noah Juulsen. Juulsen blasted a slap shot by the blue line that beat Outhouse glove side.

However, the lead would not last long. Jack Walker would score at 13:25 to even the game again and within the span of five minutes Walker would score two more goals for a hat-trick. Everett's defense collapsed giving up four goals in the final period. Carter Hart stopped 26/32 shots in the loss.

Everett still holds a seven point lead over Seattle for first place in the U.S. Division although the Silvertips have a game in hand. With less than two months remaining the final stretch of points will be critical. "We usually check out how our division teams are doing in their games," said Matt Fonteyne. "It's a real close push between us and a playoff spot and every team can beat any on any given night so we just have to be focused every night."

The Silvertips will have their hands full with three games in three nights beginning in Portland Friday February 12. They will return home to face Victoria the following night then hit road for a division matchup against Spokane.

Captain joins injured list

‘Tips captain Dawson Leedahl suffered a hand injury against the Thunderbirds and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. This timetable would project a return towards the end of the season. Currently Leedahl leads Everett with 78 penalty minutes while scoring 12 goals with 14 assists in 46 games. Leedahl joins the list of players with week-to-week injuries: Riley is dealing with a leg injury and Brandon Ralph a hand. Defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer is unfortunately done for the season with a knee injury.

Vote Carter Hart

Hart's save against the Kamloops Blazers is up for Fan Choice Play of the Week