For the Reporter
Donovan Neuls, Ethan Bear and Scott Allan scored goals to power the Seattle Thunderbirds past the Everett Silvertips 3-2 Friday night at Xfinity Arena in Everett.
Allan’s game-winning goal was his first in the WHL.
Seattle (10-11-2-2) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 2:08 into the first period. Evan Wardley forced a turnover along the right boards Justin inside Everett’s blue line. The puck came to Donovan Neuls who skated into the high slot. Neuls beat Everett goalie Austin Lotz with a slap shot for his second goal of the season.
Everett (16-5-2-1) tied the game 1-1 at 13:53 of the first on a power-play goal from Patrik Bajkov. Bajkov took a shot from the left point with traffic that got past Seattle goalie Taran Kozun. Noah Juulsen and Graham Millar had the assists.
Everett outshot Seattle 8-6 in the first period.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 11:08 of the second period. Ethan Bear brought the puck off the right boards in the Everett zone. Bear cut towards the slot and put a hard wrist shot on goal that beat Lotz low. Shea Theodore and Neuls had the assists.
The Silvertips tied the game 2-2 on a power-play goal from Juulsen at 13:38. Juulsen scored on a point shot just after the power play started. Ivan Nikolishin and Carson Stadnyk had the assists.
The T-Birds went in front 3-2 at 17:12 of the second on an unassisted goal from Scott Allan. In a battle in the right corner the puck was chipped up in the air to the right point. Allan got the puck and quickly took a slap shot that beat Lotz. The Everett goalie did not see the puck go to the point as he was looking in the corner for it. It was Allan’s first goal in the WHL.
Seattle outshot Everett 9-8 in the second period but the Tips led 16-15 in total shots after two periods.
Everett pulled Lotz late in the third period to try and tie the game. Kozun made several good saves to secure the win for the T-Birds.
Seattle outshot Everett 14-6 in the third period and 29-22 in the game.
Kozun had 20 saves on 22 shots and his record is now 9-8-2-1.
Lotz made 26 saves on 29 shots and his record is now 12-4-1-1.
Next up: Kootenay at home
The T-Birds face the Kootenay Ice at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the ShoWare Center. They host the Spokane Chiefs at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at ShoWare.
Tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Neuls 1, 2:08. 2, Everett, Bajkov 8 (Juulsen, Millar), 13:53 (pp). Penalties – Volcan, Sea (slashing), 7:53. Hauf, Sea (kneeing), 13:48.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Bear (Theodore, Neuls), 11:08. 4, Everett, Juulsen 3 (Nikolishin, Stadnyk), 13:38 (pp). 5, Seattle, Allan 1, 17:12. Penalties – Malenica, Evt (checking from behind), 2:22. Ottenbreit, Sea (delay of game), 2:22. Spencer, Sea (slashing), 6:54. Osterman, Sea (slashing), 13:07.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Neuls, Sea (slashing), 5:40. Juulsen, Evt (tripping), 13:40.
Shots on goal – Seattle 6-9-14 28, Everett 8-8-6 22. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 22 shots-20 saves (9-8-2-1); Everett, Lotz 29-26 (12-4-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-1; Everett 2-6. A – 6,573. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Jeff Campbell. Linesmen – Ryan Gibbons, Jacob Hill.
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