The Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-1 Saturday night at the accesso ShoWare Center in the final preseason game for both teams.
The T-Birds lost six of their seven preseason games, including three to the I-5 rival Silvertips.
The WHL champion T-Birds open the Western Hockey League regular season against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at ShoWare. The opener will feature the raising of two championship banners.
Everett took a 1-0 lead at 18:24 of the first period on a goal from Montana Onyebuchi. The Silvertips went in front 2-0 on a shorthanded goal from Orrin Centazzo at 12:25 of the second period and made it 3-0 at 15:50 of the third on a power-play goal from Brandson Hein.
Danton Belluk replaced Dorrin Luding in net with five minutes left in the second period. Luding had nine saves.
Dawson Butt scored on the power play at 5:02 of the third and Riley Bruce scored at 13:25 of the third to give the Silvertips a 5-0 lead.
Seattle got on the board at 16:56 of the third with a four-on-four goal by Reece Harsch.
Matthew Wedman passed the puck from the left board to Harsch at the left point. Harsch took a slap shot that beat Belluk over the left shoulder. Noah Philp had the second assist.
Everett outshot Seattle 8-4 in the third period and 29-23 in the game.
Seattle goalie Cole Schwebius had 24 saves on 29 shots.
Belluk had 13 saves on 14 shots.
Tickets
Single-game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.
Season tickets may be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Everett, Onyebuchi 1 (Kindopp), 18:24. Penalties – Dewar, Evt (tripping), 6:13. Neuls, Sea (embellishment), 6:13. Hamaliuk, Sea (tripping), 15:45.
Second period – 2, Everett, Centazzo 5 (Christiansen, Sutter), 12:25 (sh). 3, Everett, Hein 1 (Dewar), 15:50. Penalties – Adams, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:00. Dewar, Evt (unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:00. Fonteyne, Evt (major-slew footing, game misconduct), 7:55. Harsch, Sea (slashing), 15:42. Dewar, Evt (elbowing), 19:12. Ormsby, Sea (roughing), 19:37. Christiansen, Evt (roughing), 19:37.
Third period – 4, Everett, Butt 3 (Vitelli), 5:02 (pp). 5, Everett, Bruce 2 (Dewar), 13:25. 6, Seattle, Harsch 1 (Wedman, Philp), 16:56. Penalties – Strand, Sea (closing hand on puck), 3:28. McNelly, Sea (boarding), 8:16. Liwiski, Evt (clipping), 10:58. McNelly, Sea (cross checking), 15:23. Onyebuchi, Evt (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:23. Christiansen, Evt (roughing), 17:36. Bargar, Sea (roughing), 17:36.
Shots on goal – Seattle 9-10-4 23, Everett 6-15-8 29. Goalies – Seattle, Schwebius 29 shots-24 saves (0-4-0-0); Everett, Luding 9-9 (3-1-0-0), Belluk 14-13. Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Everett 2-4. Referees – Adam Griffiths, Ryan Benbow. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Devon Sephton.
