Palaga Nets Shutout to Lift Tips, 3-0
December 2, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release
EVERETT, Wash. - Silvertips goaltender Max Palaga recorded his first career WHL shutout while the Tips drilled 45 total shots on goal, as the Everett Silvertips defeated the Kootenay Ice, 3-0, before 5,063 fans at A.O.T.W. Arena on Saturday night in Western Conference action.
Silvertips forwards Luke Ormsby and Bryce Kindopp scored the game's two opening goals, while the Tips stingy defensive presence battled away all night. Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother chipped in an empty-netter to close the game out at 19:48.
"It felt amazing. I'm loving my time here," Palaga said. "The shutout just made it a little sweeter about how the season is going so far."
UP NEXT: The Western Conference-leading Silvertips, who have won a season high six straight games, get back to action Wednesday, Dec. 5, at home against the Spokane Chiefs at 7:05 p.m. (1380 AM / 95.3 FM / Tips App / WHL Live). Tickets are on sale at www.everettsilvertips.com/tickets.
Silvertips forward Luke Ormsby put the Silvertips up 1-0 at 11:27 in the opening period, as he recorded his third of the season. Defensemen Jake Christiansen and Artyom Minulin both recorded assists on the play. Christiansen's shot from the point created a rebound picked up by Ormsby, who delivered a hard backhand outside the crease-side.
Silvertips goaltender Max Palaga was perfect in the first, as he stopped 10 of 10 shots. Kootenay goaltender Jesse Makaj stopped 15 of 16 shots Everett landed on him.
With just over three seconds left in the second period, Everett forward Riley Sutter won the draw in the offensive zone and dropped the puck back to captain Connor Dewar. Dewar rifled a shot that produced a rebound into the glove of forward Bryce Kindopp, who dropped the puck and slammed it between the legs of Makaj with 0.6 seconds remaining in the period.
Everett held the edge on shots, totaling 34 through two periods compared to Kootenay's 25. The Tips nailed 18 shots on net during the second, as the Ice landed 15 on Palaga, who stopped a late breakaway on Brad Ginnell.
The Tips tacked on another 11 shots on net, including a Fairbrother empty net goal scored at 19:48. Kootenay matched Everett with 11 shots in the third but came up short on converting shots into goals.
THREE STARS
1. EVT - Max Palaga (36 save SO)
2. KTN - Jesse Makaj (43 saves)
3. EVT - Bryce Kindopp (1G)
FINAL STATS: Box score
SILVERTIPS LINE COMBOS
43 / DEWAR 14 / SUTTER 19 / KINDOPP
10 / BAINS 26 / VITELLI 7 / FASKO-RUDAS
15 / RICHARDS 16 / ORMSBY 9 / BUTT
28 / MITCHELL 39 / GONCALVES 24 / FAIRBROTHER
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
8 / SEELEY 5 / MINULIN
23 / CHRISTIANSEN 4 / WALKER
29 / WYLIE 86 / KHAIRA
GOALTENDERS
31 / PALAGA
32 / WOLF
NOTES: Silvertips scratches include Jackson Berezowski, Jalen Price and Bronson Sharp... Everett has won or gained a point in seven straight games ... The Tips are 9-9-2 in the all-time series against Kootenay and 6-4-1-0 on home ice ... Everett entered the weekend ranked #6 in the CHL Top-10 rankings ... The Silvertips are 17-0-0-0 when they score the first goal of the game this season ... Tips captain Connor Dewar has points in 18 of his last 20 games ... Dewar's 23 goals are second on the WHL, trailing league leader Brett Leason.
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