The Everett Silvertips (34-17-1-2) faced the Kelowna Rockets (32-16-3-1) at the AOTW Arena on Saturday, the conclusion of a home and home series. The US Division leader Everett came into the game holding a 8-0-2-1 record in the last 11 meetings versus the Rockets. For Kelowna, it looked to return to it’s winning ways after having an undefeated streak of five games snapped by the ‘Tips the previous night in Kelowna. Carter Hart, January’s WHL Goaltender of the Month, got the start in net for Everett and was under milestone watch again as he is one shutout away from tying the WHL all-time record. At the other end, Kelowna started Cole Tisdale, who at 15-years-old recently set a Rockets record for the the youngest goalie to record a win in his first WHL start.
A promotion of Star Wars Night by Everett ensured the fans were festive and ready for the heavyweight Western Conference showdown.
Doors open 6pm.
Free posters courtesy Pacific Copy & Printing pic.twitter.com/4knUD0CZrV
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) February 3, 2018
Scoring started early in the game as at just 45 seconds in Everett got a power play goal from Patrick Bajkov, who wristed a shot past Tisdale. Kelowna would respond quickly, as Cal Foote scored on the very next shift to tie the game 1-1 59 seconds in. At 11:51 the ‘Tips pulled ahead again as Kevin Davis fired a laser to make it 2-1. Tensions boiled over as Dawson Butt and Kyle Pow dropped the mitts at 16:54, causing many of the 6,758 in attendance to cheer. Shots at the end of the first were 12 to 7, in favour of the Rockets.
Everett went up 3-1 early in the second on a Rockets misplay, the goal was credited to Garret Pilon at 2:19. Veteran Kelowna defenceman Gordie Ballhorn unfortunately put the puck into his own net while trying to clear it from out front. Cal Foote brought the Rockets back to within one, scoring his second of the night at 5:39 to make it 3-2.
From there it was all Everett as the floodgates opened and the Silvertips piled on the goals. Riley Sutter had a tap-in goal at 10:57 to make it 4-2. Bajkov then scored his second of the night on a wrist shot from the left circle, beating Tisdale at 19:39 of the second. Second period shots were 24-5 in favour of Everett and the score after two frames was 5-2.
In the third, Everett continued to put the throttle down. For Kelowna, goalie Brodan Salmond came in as relief for Tisdale who had made 26 saves. Bajkov completed the hat-trick at 12:14, causing the hats to rain down. Pilon got his second of the night, a late power play marker at 18:46 to make it 7-2. A final goal just before the end of regulation, as Martin Fasko-Rudas scored with 2.6 seconds left to make it and 8-2 final.
The game’s first star was Patrick Bajkov, who recorded 3 goals and 2 assists, continuing to be the all-time point producer for Everett.
The Silvertips swept the weekend home and home against the Rockets, using a dominant second period to setup a run of five unanswered goals.
Everett’s next game is at home Feb.9th as they host the Spokane Chiefs and look to add to their US Division lead. The Rockets return home to regroup and face the Vancouver Giants on Feb.7th, before starting a mini three game series versus the Victoria Royals in a battle for top spot in the BC Division.
