Chris Mast

American force Game 6 with 5-2 victory in Everett

Everett, Wa. The Tri-City Americans (10-3) were in unfamiliar territory coming into Saturday night’s Western Conference playoff game number five. They were facing elimination for just the first time this postseason. Dropping Game 3 and 4 at home had put them in this position and now they had a steep hill to climb against the Everett Silvertips (11-4). The first two series, Everett won both game fives at home to advance. Could it be three in a row for the Silvertips? It was not to be, as the Americans took the 5-2 victory and a huge step up that hill and forced a game six in Kennewick.

Tri-City head coach Mike Williamson talks about quick starts a lot.

One of the things the Americans have struggled with against Everett is playing from behind early. Everett had scored the first goal in all four of the games going into Saturday’s tilt.

Game 5 was no different as Everett scored just seven seconds in. Forward Connor Dewar threw a puck at the net that hit a skate in front and deflected in, electrifying the Everett crowd.

It didn’t look good early for the Americans.

There was no signs of panic, however, from Tri-City. The Americans kept it simple and didn’t try to push the issue. It seemed patience was the name of the game. Tri-City was the recipient of a pair of power plays in the first that they couldn’t convert on. There were chances for them, but Everett goaltender Carter Hart kept the door closed. The patience continued however, and the Americans did a good job of containing Everett’s transition game and keeping play in their own zone. After giving up the first five shots of the game, the Americans finished the period with 10-7 advantage. They weren’t able to find the back of the net, but they only trailed 1-0 headed to the first intermission.

EVERETT, WA – APRIL 28: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips)

Tri-City began to turn the tide early in the second.

At the 2:29 mark, defenseman Juuso Välimäki picked up his second goal of the series and third of the postseason to tie it at one. Patience was once again the name of the game as Everett gave Välimäki a lot of time and space, which he took advantage of before firing a shot from the left circle through Hart’s five-hole.

Just over ten minutes later, the Americans would take their first lead of the game, and first lead they have had since game two of the series. Forward Jordan Topping crossed the blue line into the Everett zone with a lot of speed on his aggressive forecheck. He got to the puck first and was able to chip a pass to forward Nolan Yaremko who deflected it in as he crashed the net. It was now 2-1 Americans.

It wasn’t that Everett wasn’t trying. They were attacking hard, but the Americans were giving them a piece of their own game by limiting the Silvertips chances, keeping them to the outside, killing penalties, and getting some great goaltending from Patrick Dea. Everett fired 19 shots at Dea in the second, but he was able to track and control all them to keep Everett off of the board in the middle frame.

EVERETT, WA – APRIL 28: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips)

A one-goal lead headed into the third was huge for Tri-City, but against Everett it wasn’t necessarily a safe bet.

The next goal would go a long way to determining which way this game would go. Just over five minutes into the final frame, Välimäki added his second of the night to give Tri-City the two goal lead and a little more breathing room. Some great stick handling right in front of the Everett net led to Välimäki getting a great backhand shot to go bar down over Hart’s shoulder.

Patience once again paid off.

Just over ten minutes later, the Americans would extend the lead to three as forward Parker AuCoin picked up his third of the series and fourth of the playoffs. AuCoin collected the puck in the right circle and fired a routine wrist shot on net that beat Hart to make it 4-1.

A return home for Game 6 was becoming more likely as time started to wind down.

Everett pulled Hart at the 3:45 mark in hopes of sparking some offense with the extra attacker. The Silvertips were able to get a little something going as Dewar picked up his second of the night with 2:49 left to play. A flurry of activity in front of Dea had the Tri-City netminder down, and Dewar picked up a loose puck to the right and banged home the garbage goal.

That would be it, though as Tri-City stood firm through the Everett attack.

With 1:49 left to play, forward Michael Rasmussen added an empty-better for his 15th of the postseason. Everett would add a late penalty to their woes which completely shut the door on the comeback attempt and lead to both teams hopping on the bus for game six in Kennewick.

EVERETT, WA – APRIL 28: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips)

Neither team converted on the power play with Tri-City going 0-for-4 and Everett going 0-for-2. The Silvertips outshot the Americans 37-24, but Dea’s 35 saves were a big difference and earned him third star honors. Hart’s 19 saves on 23 shots were less than stellar for the reigning WHL goaltender king. Game six will be Monday night in Kennewick at 7:05. Everett still holds the 3-2 series lead after the game five loss and will look to wrap it up on opponent ice, where they are 6-0 this postseason.