Chris Mast

Silvertips showoff special teams in pounding Royals 9-4

The Victoria Royals (23-16-3-1) faced the Everett Silvertips (24-16-1-1) on Sunday, for the second meeting in three days. Earlier in the day, Everett made their commitment to the playoff drive by swinging a big deal to acquire Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala. Leaving the team were Orrin Centazzo and Montana Onyebuchi, meaning the Tips were short-manned for the game, also without Carter Hart who was still traveling back from the World Junior tournament. With both teams playing their third game in three days, the Royals gave Griffen Outhouse a rest after he shut out the Tips in their last meeting 5-0.

Off the initial face-off Everett controlled and scored immediately at just 24 seconds, as Connor Dewar beat Dean McNabb on the blocker side with a slapshot. Bryce Kindopp then ripped home a snap-shot from the slot area, also on the blocker side of McNabb to make it 2-0.

The Royals responded with a powerplay goal after the puck pin-balled off a couple Tips players and past Dustin Wolf.  Jared Freadrich was credited with the goal at 12;30, his 10th of the season to make it 2-1.

At 17:26 Everett celebrated a goal on a high puck batted in the Royals net, but it was immediately called off with a high stick. Dean McNabb was busy in the first as shots in the period were 18-7 for Everett.

Early in the second, the Royals Chaz Reddekopp ripped the puck past a screened Wolf, tying the game at 2-2 at 52 seconds. Silvertips Kyle Walker scored short-side, off the post 7:10 into the second, beating a screened McNabb to make it 3-2.

Everett continued to press, forcing the Victoria goalie to come up with some big saves to keep his team in the game. After making a big save on a breakaway by Matthew Phillips, Everett’s Wolf was beat by Tyler Soy for a shot-handed marker. On the same powerplay, Everett regained the lead 4-3 when Bryce Kindopp scored his second of the game on a tip in front at 10:46.

The Tips then added another as Sean Richards backhanded a goal through McNabb at 14:12.   That was it for the Victoria goalie, as Outhouse came in as relief. The goalie swap did not stop the Tip offense, as Dewar recorded his second of the night as he beat Outhouse five-hole on the powerplay at 18:07 to make it 6-3.

A total of six goals were scored in the middle frame, including three unanswered by Everett. Victoria only recorded two shots to the Silvertips twenty in the period, and looked to be feeling the effects of scheduling.

Everett added a seventh goal while on a 5-on-3 powerplay, as Matt Fonteyne scored on a cross-ice feed one-timer at 6:53 of the third period. Silvertips added thier fourth powerplay goal of the night, as Fonteyne scored his second in row to make it 8-3 at 9:45. Dean McNabb returned to Victoria net as Outhouse clearly did not have the answer to stop the Everett offense.

Patrick Bajkov added another powerplay goal at 11:46 to continue the barrage, his fifth point of the night. A scrum followed the goal, as Victoria had no answers and were frustrated.  Out of the mess, Victoria ended up on the powerplay and Phillips scored to make it 9-4.

A line brawl erupted in front of the players bench at 14:47 and Victoria seemed to get the worst of that as well. Multiple game misconducts followed, thinning out the benches.

With both teams playing three games in three nights, the Royals seemed greatly worse for wear.  The flood-gates opened in the second period and the Royals could not kill penalties. Victoria’s inconsistency continues, winning big on some nights and getting blown out on others.

Everett, while undermanned showed a lot of offense and energy. A complete opposite of the meeting these two teams had just two days prior, with scoring galore in this game. Bajkov led the way with five points (1G, 3A) while Fonteyne had four points (2G, 2A).

Everett will welcome new faces and the return their golden goalie when they next face the Tri-City Americans on January 10th. Victoria will lick their wounds and welcome the Kamloops Blazers to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena on January 12th.