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Everett Silvertips

Shootout Loss in Portland Puts Everett in 5th

March 17, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


PORTLAND, OR - Josh Winquist scored twice to tie Zach Hamill's franchise record with 93 points this season, but the Everett Silvertips came up just short in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Portland Winterhawks Sunday evening at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The point gained in their 2013-14 regular season finale wasn't enough to clinch fourth place in the Western Conference and home ice advantage in their first round playoff series however.

Seattle's win at Tri-City tied them with Everett at 88 points, but the T-Birds get the #4 seed via the tiebreaker of having more wins. Seattle will host Game 1 of the first round series Saturday at the ShoWare Center, with Game 2 following at Comcast Arena in Everett Sunday afternoon at 4:05 pm.

In addition to tying Hamill's record 93-point output from the 2006-07 season, Winquist's first goal of the game was the 100th of his career and put him ahead of Shane Harper for second on the all-time Everett scoring list. Matt Pufahl contributed a goal and assisted on Dawson Leedahl's tip-in score for the 'Tips as well. After relieving Austin Lotz in goal to start the second period, 15-year-old netminder Carter Hart (0-2) turned in a strong effort with 30 saves on 32 shots over the last 45 minutes.

Portland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, getting goals from Taylor Leier and Alex Shoenborn just over three minutes apart. The 'Tips were outshot 12-10 in the first 20 minutes and trailed by two going into the locker room.

Everett scored a quick powerplay goal to start the second period, with Dawson Leedahl tipping in Matt Pufahl's point shot to get the 'Tips on the board at 1:45. Pressuring in the offensive zone a few minutes later, Ben Betker gained control of the puck on the left boards and zipped a pass across to Winquist, who one-timed a shot into the top half of the net to even the score at two. After Portland re-gained the lead with Brendan Leipsic setting up a Nic Petan goal, Pufahl squeezed a wrist shot through traffic from the boards and into the top corner to even the score at three after 40 minutes.

The Silvertips went on top just over five minutes into the third as Nikolishin collected a puck beside the net and slipped it across the goal mouth to Winquist, who shot it past diving Portland goaltender Adin Hill to give Everett a 4-3 lead. With the Silvertips on the powerplay two minutes later though, it was the 'Hawks who capitalized on a 2-on-1 rush with Leier's second goal of the game from Petan to even the score at four.

Portland had an overtime powerplay that was killed off by the 'Tips as the game went to a shootout. Tied through three rounds after goals from Derrick Pouliot for Portland and Winquist for Everett, Nic Petan notched the shootout winner for the 'Hawks in the fourth round.

Austin Lotz stopped ten of 12 shots before being replaced by Hart. Adin Hill (4-0) finished with 17 saves as Portland outshot Everett 45-21 in total. The Silvertips were 1 for 3 on the powerplay, while the Winterhawks ended up 0 for 2.

Their 11th WHL regular season now complete, the fifth-place Silvertips will prepare to face the fourth-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round of the 2014 WHL playoffs. The Silvertips open the series at the ShoWare Center in Kent with Game 1 Saturday night at 7:05. Pregame broadcast coverage starts at 6:30 pm on Fox Sports 1380 AM. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series follows Sunday afternoon in Everett, with the opening faceoff set for 4:05 pm at Comcast Arena.

Playoff ticket packages are available now at the team office, with single game playoff tickets going on sale Monday morning at 10:00 am. Visit www.EverettSilvertips.com or call 425-252-5100 for more information. To keep up with all the latest team news, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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