WHL Everett Silvertips

Everett Beats Spokane In Overtime

March 25, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


Everett, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips defeated the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night, March 24th. Zach Hamill scored the game winning goal, and goaltender Leland Irving was spectacular in goal. The 7,194 fans inside of the Everett Events Center witnessed the Silvertips establish a 2-0 lead in the playoff series.

Unlike last night in game one, it was the Silvertips having to work back from giving up an early goal. David Rutherford put the puck through Irving on an unassisted play at 4:59, but it was just over ten minutes later that the deficit would be erased. Following a left circle draw in the Spokane zone, Shane Harper worked with Brandon Campos along the boards to eventually produce a shot. The initial attempt was denied, but Lukas Vartovnik gathered the rebound and fired it through traffic and past Chiefs goalie Dustin Tokarski at 15:09.

Everett then gained the lead of the game 4:46 into the second period. The first penalty of a brief 5-on-3 power play in favor of the 'Tips had expired just seconds prior to Harper successfully converting his rebound attempt at 4:46 following a Lukas Vartovnik shot from up high in the Chiefs zone. Dan Gendur was credited with the secondary assist. Everett would maintain the 2-1 lead heading into the third period, but they definitely had to work for it.

Spokane went onto a power play just inside the final two minutes, and the man advantage soon became a two man advantage. Irving stood huge though for Everett and kept the puck out of the net amidst a couple of wild scrambles around the crease. The second of those saves came just as the horn sounded to end the 20-minutes.

The Spokane 5-on-3 carried over into the third period during which the Silvertips were able to successfully kill of the duration of their penalties. Everett couldn't build on the one goal lead, and the Chiefs would eventually tie the game. Exactly six minutes after Irving stoned Mitch Wahl on a partial breakaway, it was David Rutherford scoring at the 18:52 mark after Spokane had pulled Tokarski for the extra attacker.

Early in the first overtime period, Everett faced a daunting task. A penalty at 4:33 was followed up by another at 4:50 putting the Silvertips down two men for a second time in the game. The 'Tips though pulled through thanks in part to a massive glove save by Irving and tremendous team defense.

That set the stage for the dramatic conclusion. Hamill was the offender on that second Everett penalty and his time in the penalty box had just ended seconds earlier when he received the puck in the neutral zone. Dane Crowley was just inside of the Everett end and made the outlet pass. Hamill had a two-on-one break with Moises Gutierrez; Hamill on the right wing and Gutierrez skating up the middle. Just as he skated into the right circle, Hamill released a shot that blew past Tokarski and clinched the victory.

The series will now move east of the mountains to Spokane for game three on Tuesday night, March 27th, inside of the Spokane Arena. Game four will also be in Spokane the following night, March 28th, with the puck scheduled to drop both nights at 7:00 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2007


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