Silvertips Blanked By Vees In Front of Largest Crowd of the Season
PENTICTON DOMINATED EVERETT IN ALL THREE PHASES EN ROUTE TO A 7-0 SHUTOUT
Over 7,300 fans braved through a storm, around fallen trees and piercing rain to get into Angel of the Winds Arena. Avoiding the dark and stormy weather for the optimistic and welcoming atmosphere of AOTW - which would quickly lose its positivity and spirit.
With the most fans of any game this season and a joyous Pink the Rink atmosphere, it would be the Penticton Vees who came in dialed to avenge their loss last Saturday night. Despite losing to the worst team in the WHL Friday night, Penticton started out strong against the Western Conference leader, hitting harder then Everett, skating circles around Everett, and capitalizing with four first period goals. Coach, Fred Harbinson completely succeeded in silencing the raucous Everett home crowd and dominating the game from the start.
The first period started off with a major hit from Penticton and instant energy and momentum was generated. It would never get better from that point on. The Vees would get the scoring started early and initiate a chain sequence that started four goals in just eleven minutes. Ryden Evers got the scoring started on a beautiful short-side one timer as a powerplay expired. From that point on, former Saskatoon Blade William James notched his first of the year, Mateo Dannis potted a goal, and Jacob Kvasnicka would score the final goal of the frame.
Raiden LeGall came in after the first intermission to sub in for Anders Miller. Miller was not the root cause of any goal - and Hamilton silently acknowledge that by choosing to pull him at the intermission rather than during the first period. However the goalie change did not provide the spark it intended and Everett continued to make mistakes everywhere. Despite their ability to come back in previous games this year versus Wenatchee and Kelowna, this was the first time in the season that Everett was punched in the mouth and had absolutely no response. The entire team‘s energy flatlined, the defensive play remained sloppy, and the physicality did not come back to reciprocate against Penticton.
Ryden Evers would notch two more goals in the second period and one in the third period to finish the night with four goals on five shots.
The Silvertips’ poor game on defense extended to all six defensemen. Penticton capitalized multiple times on backdoor passes to easy goals. Fred Harbinson would send a Vee to stand to the right of the crease nearly every shift and the Everett defense failed to pick them up on numerous occasions leading to easy one-timer or rebound goals. Everett also allowed a bevy of 2-on-1 opportunities that the Vees capitalized on as well.
Obviously getting shut out is a clear indicator your offense was poor, but this one doubly so. Andrew Reyelts pitched a 33 save shutout - and he did play well. But nearly every Everett shot the Tips took all game went straight into his chest. Penticton’s defensive corps did a fantastic job of blocking shots or funneling them to the side boards to take weak wristers. Everett could get nothing going - the dump and chase game was sloppy, they could not get fluid zone entries, and they never had consistent 5-on-5 hockey with all the penalties they took.
The absence of Landon DuPont was very noticeable with mismatched defensive pairings, and a clear lack of speed on the backend. But another glaring hole in the game was the healthy scratch of Clark Schaefer. Steve Hamilton has not dressed both Schaefer and Ament this year - choosing to have one them essentially alternate starts. But Schaefer’s absence was noticeable in terms of an offensive production standpoint from the fourth line AND a chippiness and aggressiveness that no one on our team showed.
Everett was never going to go undefeated - and a loss was inevitable. Not what you want as a fan, but an accepted reality of the sport. The Silvertips still retain the best record in all the WHL and have an important divisional game later today in Spokane. To read the Spokane preview article - check out the end of the weekend preview:
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