WHL Everett Silvertips

Thrilling Comeback Not Enough as 'Tips Bow Out

Published on March 29, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT - Trailing 3-0 with less than 14 minutes left in their season, the Everett Silvertips put together a stirring third-period comeback tie the game and force overtime before falling 4-3 to the Tri-City Americans in Game 4 of their first-round WHL playoff series Wednesday night at Comcast Arena. The Silvertips fought down to the end, but Zachary Yuen's goal with 1:07 left in the first overtime secure the series sweep for Tri-City, who advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Everett had been shut out in five consecutive periods before clawing their way back in the third behind goals from Ryan Harrison, Ryan Murray and Josh Caron, who evened things up at three with only 40 seconds left in regulation. Kent Simpson stopped 35 shots and held the Americans off the scoreboard for nearly 50 consecutive minutes of play before Yuen's overtime winner.

The Silvertips came out strong in the first and outshot the Americans 11-10, but Tri-City would record the only goal to take the lead. Brendan Shinnimin received a long pass along the right boards and cut to the net before beating Simpson in tight to give the Americans a 1-0 lead after one.

Tri-City opened the second period and the powerplay and immediately added to their lead when a point shot caromed off Mason Wilgosh, who then spun around and fired the puck just inside the left post to give the Americans a two-goal lead. The visitors would go up 3-0 midway through the frame when Mitch Topping rifled a slap shot into the top corner from the blue line. Everett held a 23-16 shot edge through two periods, but trailed the game 3-0 going into the third.

Rather than throwing in the towel for the last 20 minutes, the Silvertips turned up the pressure and began to chip away at the deficit. Ryan Harrison got the 'Tips on the board on the powerplay, sending a rebound chance through traffic and in from the high slot at 6:10 to make it 3-1. Tri-City went on a five-minute powerplay a short time later when Harrison was given a major penalty for charging, but Everett retained the momentum. Ryan Murray received a Cody Fowlie pass on a shorthanded rush and skated past the defense before backhanding a shot over Rimmer's glove hand to pull the 'Tips back within one.

The Silvertips killed off the remainder of Harrison's penalty and kept pressing to tie the game, but didn't do so until the final minute of regulation. With Kent Simpson off for an extra attacker, Josh Winquist and Josh Birkholz helped get the puck to the right point, where Josh Caron slipped a quick shot past Ty Rimmer to even the game at three with 40 seconds left.

Everett had ten shots and a few quality chances, but Rimmer held on until Tri-City began to counter with chances of their own. With a tired Silvertips unit trapped in the d-zone and unable to change, Zachary Yuen sent a long wrister into the top corner to give the Americans the victory and end the Silvertips' season.

Kent Simpson (0-4) stopped 35 shots, while Ty Rimmer (4-0) made 42 saves as Everett outshot Tri-City 45-39. The 'Tips finished 2 for 4 on the powerplay, while the Americans were 1 for 5.

The loss ends the Silvertips' ninth season in Everett after the club was able to extend its streak of qualifying for the WHL playoffs in all nine years of existence. The 'Tips will now begin preparing special plans for our tenth anniversary season in 2012-13, which begins in September.

Log on to www.everettsilvertips.com throughout the offseason for all the latest Silvertips news and information, including the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft in early May and the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in June.

Check out the Everett Silvertips Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2012


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