EVERETT – A tie game appeared to be headed for overtime when Kailer Yamamoto’s first career goal gave the Spokane Chiefs a 5-4 victory over the Everett Silvertips Wednesday night at XFINITY Arena. The last team in the WHL to lose a game in regulation this season, the ‘Tips now stand at 6-1-2-1 with two more home games coming up this weekend.

With a goal and an assist in the contest, Nikita Scherbak increased his point total to 11 points (5g/6a) in seven games with the ‘Tips. Brayden Low scored for the second straight game, while Cole MacDonald set a new career high with his third tally of the season and Kohl Bauml tied for the second on the team with his fifth goal of the season.

The Silvertips opened up scoring in a busy first period after Nikita Scherbak stole the puck behind the net and sent a pass into the slot for Brayden Low, who slid the puck under goaltender Garret Hughson. Spokane tied the game when Calder Brooks picked up the rebound of a Connor Chartier shot and quickly sent it to the back of the net. Minutes later the Chiefs took a 2-1 lead when Jacob Cardiff fired in another rebound off the rush. Liam Stewart then extended Spokane’s lead with their third goal in under eight minutes as he picked the corner with a rebound shot over the shoulder of Austin Lotz. Everett went on the powerplay late in the third and cut the deficit to 3-2 on Cole MacDonald’s point shot that found the top corner through traffic.

Kohl Bauml tied the game at three seven minutes into the second period after Graham Millar drove to the net with the puck to create a rebound chance that Bauml finished in front. Spokane re-gained the lead later on their second powerplay of the period as Adam Helewka stepped into the slot and wired a shot inside the post. After 40 minutes the Silvertips found themselves down 4-3 and being outshot 27-15 heading into the final frame.

The ‘Tips came on in the third period and tied the game again despite failing to score on two powerplay opportunities in the first half of the period. After a good shift from Bauml and Remi Laurencelle in the offensive zone at 11:06, Nikita Scherbak rifled in a shot from the slot to tie the game at four. What was nearly Everett’s third straight game requiring extra time quickly became their first regulation loss of the season however, with defense zone trouble ledaing to Kailer Yamamoto scoring on a backhand shot in front with 12.1 seconds left on the clock to give Spokane a 5-4 lead.

Goaltender Austin Lotz (5-1-1-1) turned away 33 of 38 shots faced for Everett, while Garrett Hughson (5-1-3-0) stopped 25 of 29 in net for Spokane. Final shots were 38-29 in favor of the Chiefs. The Silvertips were 1 for 4 on the powerplay and the Chiefs finished 1 for 2.

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The Silvertips are back home on ice twice more this week, first against the Tri-City Americans Friday night at 7:35. The ‘Tips then host the rival Seattle Thunderbirds for our sixth-annual “Pink the Rink” night Saturday at 7:05 pm.

For more information call 425-252-5100, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.