WHL Everett Silvertips

Everett Posts Shutout Over Vancouver

Published on March 18, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


Everett, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips defeated the Vancouver Giants 2-0 on Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd of 8,513 fans inside of the Everett Events Center. The game was the team's 72nd and final of the 2006-2007 regular season. As a result of the shutout, Everett is now tied for first place all-time for total shutouts in one season. The 14 that they garnered equals that of the 2003-2004 Kelowna Rockets and the 2004-2005 Seattle Thunderbirds. The victory also completes their regular season series sweep of the Giants 6-0.

The incredible regular season comes to a close with the Silvertips winning their third U.S. Division Championship overall and second in a row. On top of that they also were crowned the Western Hockey League's regular season champions. Their final records on the season were 54-15-1-2 (111 pts) overall, 31-4-0-1 at home, and 23-11-1-1 on the road. On the individual side of things, the Silvertips own Zach Hamill officially wrapped up the WHL's regular season scoring title after producing 32 goals and 61 assists for a total of 93 points.

As for the game itself Everett didn't score many nor often, but they did score early. They found themselves on a power play inside of the games first minute and eventually they were working a brief 5-on-3 advantage. It was during the second power play when a log-jam of players along the right wing boards in the Vancouver zone resulted in the puck popping free. Zack Dailey was the first to gain solid control and skated out of the right circle, cutting towards the left circle. He drew Vancouver goaltender Tyson Sexsmith to the edge of the crease before throwing the puck back the other direction to a wide open Jonathan Harty who hammered it into the open net at 4:01. Lukas Vartovnik was scored with the secondary assist.

The second period was all about defense for the Silvertips and their goalie Leland Irving was a huge part of that. He stopped all thirteen Vancouver shots that came his way in the 20-minutes. But it was in the third period when he was his strongest.

Irving was called upon several times to make big saves as the Giants manufactured pressure throughout the remainder of the game to try and tie the score. However, it went beyond Irving and was a total team effort just prior to the period's midway point. Vancouver went onto a four minute power play and the Silvertips were able to hold them to just a pair of shots-on-goal.

The Giants began a ferocious attack in the waning minutes of the game and pulled Sexsmith with a minute-and-a-half remaining for the extra skater. That's when Everett would finalize the scoring. The Silvertips cleared the puck out of the zone and Vartovnik pursued Vancouver defenseman A.J. Thelen into the Giants end. Thelen gained control of the puck but as he was skating in front of his own goal, Vartovnik poke-checked Thelen's stick and knocked the puck into the empty net at 19:09. The goal was unassisted.

The Silvertips will now focus their attention on the 2007 Western Hockey League Playoffs. Their first game of which will be next Friday night, March 23rd, inside of the Everett Events Center. The initial puck drop against their opening round opponent Spokane Chiefs is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Game two of the series will be the following night, March 24th. Again it will be a home game at the EEC with the scheduled game time for 7:05 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2007


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