DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night:
Everett Silvertips @ Portland Winterhawks 5 PM PST
In the lone contest Sunday night in the Western Hockey League, it’s an all U.S. matchup for your DUBNetwork Game of the Night. The Everett Silvertips (18-7-1-0) come into this game seven points ahead of the Portland Winterhawks (14-8-0-2) for first place in the US Division, with Portland having two games in hand.
These teams have played each other five times already this season, Everett is ahead in the season series by a 3-2 count thus far. Last time these two teams played, just nine days ago Joachim Blichfeld scored a hat-trick to push the Winterhawks past the ‘Tips by a 5-2 score.
Winterhawk Joachim Blichfeld has been good all season long, Everett not being an exception as he’s had plenty of success against them this season. Blichfeld currently sits 3rd in WHL scoring with 45 points in 24 games, not far behind is teammate Cody Glass who has 42 points in 21 games so far this season.
Goaltending for the Silvertips has continued to be well above average, with Dustin Wolf playing in 25/26 games for his club this season. Wolf sits among the leagues best when it comes to netminders, putting up Carter Hart like numbers backstopping the ‘Tips to first place in the division.
Everett has some of their own offensive dynamite to not take lightly, Connor Dewar, Riley Sutter, and Wyatt Wylie have done most of the work offensively for the club. The rest of their offense is still dangerous nonetheless, some very untapped options in import forward Martin Fasko-Rudas, and Gage Goncalves make every shift of the game dangerous for the opposition.
Somehow year after year the Silvertips always seem to find themselves playing meaningful hockey in the springtime and expect this contest to have that kind of atmosphere at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Oregon.
Fanshaw’s Fast Facts:
- Dustin Wolf (EVT) has only allowed four goals on three occasions so far this season in 25 GP, one of which came vs. POR on November 16, 2018.
- Joachim Blichfeld (POR) has nine points in five game vs. EVT this season
- Everett has only allowed 58 GA, good for 3rd least Goals Allowed in the WHL.
- 2001-born Reece Newkirk (POR) has points in seven of his last eight games. (5G, 6A over that span)
- Connor Dewar (EVT) has six points in his last four games.
Leading Scorers:
Connor Dewar- EVT- (20G-14A) Sits 5th in the WHL Goal Leaders.
Joachim Blichfeld- POR- (20G-25A) Six points in his last four games played
Who’s backstopping who?
Dustin Wolf- EVT- (1.836 GAA, .924 SV%) Has averaged a .966 SV% over his last three starts.
Shane Farkas- POR- (2.821 GAA, .900 SV%) Has sub-900 save percentage numbers in his last two starts.
