Hart, Silvertips Control Spokane 3-1
January 10, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release
SPOKANE, Wash. - Carter Hart made 29 saves for his league leading 23rd win of the season, lifting the first place Everett Silvertips to a 3-1 victory over the Spokane Chiefs before 4,134 fans at Spokane Arena on Sunday.
The win finished a stretch of three road games in three days where the Silvertips earned five of six possible points, extending their lead at first place in the U.S. Division to four points over Seattle. The Silvertips also ended a stretch of 10 games on the road out of 12 overall with a record of 8-2-1.
Brandon Ralph earned the game winning goal and Tristen Pfeifer posted a goal and an assist.
Dario Winkler's third goal of the season put the Tips ahead, 1-0 at 4:33 of the second period on an open net goal. With the puck taking a ricochet to Pfeifer, stationed in the slot, he fired a shot off Tyson Verhelst's pad and Winkler planted the backhander for the early lead.
Hart, stopping nine shots in the first period, made his most impressive save on Wyatt Johnson's backdoor deflection, set up with a behind-the-back pass from the left circle.
Ralph extended the lead to 2-0 in the second period at 9:19, sneaking a wrister through Verhelst's five hole after a set up by Yan Khomenko. The third period required several point blank saves by Verhelst to prevent the game from becoming a blowout, and Spokane nearly shaved the deficit to one goal after Keanu Yamamoto hit the post with a backhander from the left circle.
The Silvertips cleared the zone and engineered a two-on-one counter-attack with Patrick Bajkov and Graham Millar. Pfeifer, entering the zone as the trailer, took Millar's drop pass and rifled a snap shot past Verhelst for a 3-0 lead at 11:08.
Just 2:20 later, the Chiefs ended Hart's shutout bid on Wyatt Johnson's wrister from the left circle, but failed to get any closer for the remainder of the game.
Verhelst made 22 saves for Spokane.
SILVERTIPS STARTING LINES
Leedahl - Laurencelle - Stadnyk
Bajkov - Fonteyne - Millar
Dewar - Winkler - King
Ralph - Sutter - Khomenko
SILVERTIPS D-PAIRINGS
Skrumeda - Juulsen
MacDonald - Davis
Martin - Pfeifer
NOTES: The Silvertips scratched Jake Christiansen, Devon Skokeski, Spencer Gerth, and Mackenzie Dwyer ... Everett improved to 5-1-0 in the season series over the Chiefs and 52-52-1-4 in the all-time series ... Khomenko's assist was the first in his WHL career ... the Silvertips improved to 11-6-1 against opponents from the U.S. Division.
The Silvertips return home for their next game, hosting the Regina Pats on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. (1380 AM/WHL Live). Midweek Madness tickets are on sale for the game, presenting Green lower level seats available on a "buy one, get one free" basis for just $10.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2016
- Hart, Silvertips Control Spokane 3-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Ty Smith to Join Chiefs this Week - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers Sweep Weekend with 3-0 Win in Portland - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs Fail to Capitalize on Chances, Lose 3-1 - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Fall 3-0 to Kamloops - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Acquire Cole Sanford from Tigers - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Acquire Conditional Sixth Round Selection in 2017 WHL Bantam Draft from Brandon - Everett Silvertips
- Tigers Make Deadline Deal - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Trade Magnes to Seattle - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hurricanes Acquire Kroeker from Regina - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- T-Birds Acquire Garan Magnes from Oil Kings - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Pats and Hurricanes Complete Trade - Regina Pats
- Giants Send Taphorn to Kootenay - Vancouver Giants
- Ice Acquire Prospect from Giants - Kootenay Ice
- Rebels Trade Adamson To Swift Current - Red Deer Rebels
- Hurricanes Trade Scott Allan to Calgary - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Hitmen Complete Trade Deadline Deal with Hurricanes - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Complete Trade Deadline Deal with Raiders - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Swing Deal with Hitmen - Prince Albert Raiders
- Oil Kings Make It Four Straight Home Wins - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Warriors & Blazers Swap Imports - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blazers Acquire Smejkal from Warriors - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Notes: Broncos Host Warriors in 2pm Matinee - Swift Current Broncos
- Barzal Lifts Silvertips over Seattle in OT - Everett Silvertips
- Rehill Scores OT Winner in 4-3 Win in Portland - Kamloops Blazers
- Royals Top Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Brandon Edges Broncos - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Chiefs Fall Behind Early in 7-2 Loss to Regina - Spokane Chiefs
- Barzal Blasts T-Birds Past Tips in Overtime - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Pats win 7-2 - Regina Pats
- Ronning Plays Hero in Red Deer - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Squeak Past Americans 7-5 - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets defeat the Tri-City Americans 7-5 - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets Beat Americans 7-5 in Wild One in Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- Hawks Fall 4-3 in Overtime to Kamloops Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Edge Rebels 6-5 in OT - Red Deer Rebels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
