Larry Brunt

Silvertips kick off road trip with win over the Hurricanes

Dustin Wolf made 23 saves and the Everett Silvertips got two goals from Gage Goncalves for a 3-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes to kick off their five-game road trip. Bryan Thomson made 34 saves in a losing cause.

Dustin Wolf (photo-Chris Mast)

The Silvertips struck first in this one – just 2:35 into the first period. Goncalves snuck a shot past Thomson for his 13th of the season, unassisted on the play. Everett controlled much of the play throughout this period and dominated the shot clock 16-6.

The Hurricanes do get a really good chance though as Ty Nash got in on a partial break but was unable to get a shot away. That ended up being the best chance for the home team in the opening frame. The Silvertips come close to doubling the lead but Bryce Kindopp’s ripper clanged off the far post. It remained 1-0 after one.

Bryan Thomson (photo Erica Perreaux)

The control in play continued for the visitors as they hemmed in the Hurricanes and forced a couple early icing that led to coach Brent Kisio using his timeout. Thomson stood tall though in keeping it a one goal game. He made 12 saves in all during the second period of play.

Despite being outplayed most of the evening Lethbridge did find a way to tie this game up on the man advantage. Oliver Okulair tallied his league-leading 21st of the season with 3:47 left to play in period two. Logan Barlage and Alex Cotton were credited with the assists. After 40 it was a 1-1 game. 28-14 were the shots in favour of the Silvertips.

The tie was short lived in this one. Just 1:07 into the third period Goncalves got his second of the night and 14th on the season put the visitors back on top. Wyatte Wylie had the lone helper on the power-play goal. Four minutes later the pressure paid off again for Everett. Martin Fasko-Rudas scored his third of the season to put his team up 3-1. Assists on the play were credited to defensemen Dylan Anderson and Gianni Fairbrother.

Thomson continued to stand tall for the Hurricanes including a breakaway stop with six minutes to play to keep his team within two. It wouldn’t be enough as the Silvertips steered it home for the 3-1 road win. Final shots were 37-24 for Everett.

Oliver Okuliar (Photo: Erica Perreaux)

Shooting the Breeze: Both teams cashed in once on the power play Everett going 1-for-4 while the Hurricanes were 1-for-3 a man up. Despite being outplayed, the Hurricanes actually controlled the faceoff dot winning 36 draws to the 23 won by the Silvertips. The win is the third straight for the Silvertips over the Hurricanes over the last three seasons.

With his second period goal, Okuliar extends his point streak to five games (four goals and three assists). Dylan Cozens had his four game point streak snapped with zero points on the night.

Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes shipped defenceman Rylan Thiessen to the Brandon Wheat Kings for a sixth-round pick.

Next up for Everett is a Game 2 of their road trip as they make a stop in Swift Current on Friday night to play the Broncos. Lethbridge will welcome the rival Tigers to town Friday for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game, before heading to Swift Current themselves for a Saturday tilt with the Broncos.