Silvertips earn a second straight shutout for a perfect start to the season.
The Everett Silvertips are two games into the season and are already proving they are the team to beat with a second straight shutout victory. A dominant 7-0 win over the Tri-City Americans is just the exclamation point the Silvertips were looking for to end their opening weekend.
The Americans see their record fall to 1-1 but will have a shot at redemption as they prepare to face the Silvertips on the road Wednesday night.
In the US DIvision, the Silvertips are the only team to end their opening weekend with a perfect 2-0 record. The Portland Winterhawks are at the top of the standings, having played one more game than Everett but lost their first game of the season to Tri-City in overtime.
Milestone alert
For the Americans, it was the 200th WHL game of Sasha Mutala‘s career.
2⃣0⃣0⃣ ?????
Congrats, @sashamutala! pic.twitter.com/JmJ1loblsR
— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) March 22, 2021
Ryan Hofer, younger brother of WHL star goaltender Joel Hofer, scored his first career WHL goal for the Silvertips.
? GOAL! ?
Ryan Hofer has his first career WHL goal and it's now a 5-0 lead for Everett! #LetsGoTips | @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/BwkmDeJQ1F
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) March 22, 2021
Wolf one step closer to shutout record
Dustin Wolf has posted back-to-back shutouts in less than 48 hours and is now just four shutouts away from joining Carter Hart and Tyson Sexsmith. However, Carter Hart finished his WHL career with 190 games, while Tyson Sexsmith finished with 179. If Dustin Wolf is to somehow play all 24 games for the Silvertips this season, he would only reach 151 career games in the WHL.
Six shutouts in a 24 game season seemed like a tall order before the season start. However, the necessary total is now down to four, with 22 games remaining. It no longer seems so unattainable. Might we even see a new record this season? Only time will tell.
Points are adding up already
Six different skaters scored Everett’s seven goals. It was the first goal of the season for each, with Ethan Regnier being the only repeat scorer.
While an impressive eleven Silvertips found their names on the scoresheet, six of them had a multi-point game.
Ethan Regnier and Cole Fonstad both saw three-point performances.
Meanwhile, Ronan Seeley, Brendan Lee, Gianni Fairbrother, and Olen Zellweger found themself with two points each in the game.
Before the next game
While not the only factor in today’s game, the Americans have accrued 15 penalty minutes in each of their first two games this season. Look for them to play a more disciplined game as the season progresses.
The next game for both teams will be on Wednesday, with Everett playing host to Tri-City. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 pm PDT.
