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EVERETT - The Everett Silvertips have gone 9-0-1 earning at least a point a game during that impressive stretch and lead the U-S Division with 67 points (32-16-1-2).
Silvertips HC Dennis Williams says his team rose to the occasion in the 6-5 win over Spokane (Sunday) in overtime, “It would have been easy to pack it in there with the score 5-3 in the third. But this is a great group,” Williams proudly said. “They battled. It may not have been a pretty one, but two points is two points. We’ll take it. It was a gutsy effort.”
The Tips never led in regulation, having to come back and tie the contest four times. The last rally came from two goals down in the final period. Forward Connor Dewar forced the overtime with 23.2 seconds left in the third. Then Dewar seized the win in overtime for the Silvertips only lead of the night.
“It’s a good team win. You just have to find your way and battle on the Sunday games.,” said Dewar.
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Dewar has 27 goals and 21 assists on the season, “Dewar just goes. He’s like an Energizer Bunny. He doesn’t stop until that final buzzer,” said Williams.
Goaltender Carter Hart allowed five goals, the most he’s allowed in one game this season, “Tonight was not one of my best nights, but that’s what good teams do, they got guys that can pick other guys up. We had a couple guys score there at the end and we got the win.”
The Western Conference’s bunched up playoff run has every U.S. based team jockeying for playoff position and Williams says his squad enjoys the challenges, “It’s a lot of hockey on these guys. It’s taxing. It’s not so much the physical, but it’s the mental side. Those two games against Seattle, a big tough, physical team. The rivalry, the buildings. Spokane with two top lines and defenseman who can play. We just try and reset it each day. We got to focus on Portland now.”
Silver Tips:
Riley Sutter DNP because he played in the 2018 CHL/NHL Top Prospect’s game on Thursday, January 25th. A league mandate restricts players from playing more than three games in a row.