WHL Everett Silvertips

Strong Hart Lifts Silvertips 2-0

September 26, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Goaltender Carter Hart opened the season with his fifth career shutout, stoning the Prince George Cougars on 27 saves in the Everett Silvertips' 2-0 victory on Friday at CN Centre.

Hart, who duplicated his performance of last season (blanking Seattle in a 1-0 road shutout win), was supported by Patrick Bajkov's second period goal and an empty netter by rookie Connor Dewar. Hart outdueled Ty Edmonds' 33 stops and the Silvertips won the season opener for the fourth time in the last six seasons (4-1-1).

Following a lengthy delay to start the game, both teams managed 11 combined shots in the first period and the Silvertips adjusted their line combinations to hammer Edmonds with 21 shots in the second period. But Everett had to dodge a bullet on a negated goal to Brogan O'Brien, who kicked a rebound off his skate and through Hart's five-hole.

The Silvertips, energized with opportunity, responded by seizing a 1-0 lead during a four-on-four situation. Patrick Bajkov, maneuvering through open ice on an outnumbered break, cut into the slot and beat Edmonds over the right shoulder with a snap shot at the 12:30 mark.

Edmonds made a trio of spectacular saves, two on Remi Laurencelle at the goal mouth and a breakaway to Dawson Leedahl, to keep the game at a 1-0 pace through two periods. Hart need a sharp save on Brad Morrison with two minutes left and followed up in the third period on a right pad save on Morrison.

The scoring chance produced a slashing penalty on Mackenzie Dwyer with 3:53 remaining and Prince George burned their timeout with a face-off in the Silvertips zone. The strategy backfired and Matt Fonteyne's face-off win enabled a clear of the zone and Prince George pulled Edmonds for a six-on-five situation in the final minute. After another key defensive zone face-off win, Cole MacDonald floated a clearing attempt to center ice.

Dewar, out-hustling the Prince George defense, seized the loose puck and buried a breakaway empty netter with 38 seconds left.

NOTES: The Silvertips scratched Noah Juulsen, Alexander Scherbakov, Sean Mallonee, Jake Christansen, Gunnar Wegleitner, Yan Khomenko and Austin Lotz ... Everett's penalty kill, going 27-for-28 in the preseason, shut down both Prince George opportunities ... the Silvertips earned their first season opening win in Canada since 2006, a 2-1 win at Chilliwack.

SILVERTIPS LINES?

Leedahl - Laurencelle - Stadnyk ?

Bajkov - Fonteyne - Gerth ?

Ralph - Skoleski - Millar ?

Dewar - Sutter - King

?

SILVERTIPS PAIRINGS

MacDonald - Pfeifer

Dwyer - Davis

Skrumeda - Davis

The Silvertips return to play on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. with a rematch with Prince George (FOX Sports 1380 AM/WHL Live) at CN Centre. Silvertips radio voice Mike Benton will handle coverage 30 minutes prior to opening face-off with the Silvertips pregame show, presented by Everett Bone and Joint.

Check out the Everett Silvertips Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from September 26, 2015


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