KENNEWICK, Wash. – Carter Hart recorded 29 saves while the Everett Silvertips led wire to wire, en route to a 3-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans in Game 4 of the Western Conference Championship Series, before 3,537 fans at Toyota Center on Thursday. The Silvertips seized a 3-1 lead in the series and can advance to the WHL Championship Series with a victory on Saturday, in Game 5 in downtown Everett.

Reece Vitelli earned the game winner while Riley Sutter broke a scoreless tie in the second period. Matt Fonteyne earned he game winner on an empty net opportunity with less than 40 seconds remaining, lifting the Silvertips to a 6-0 record in the postseason.

The Silvertips can close the series and advance in Game 5 on Saturday vs. Tri-City, 7:05 PM PT (Fox Sports 1380 / WHL Live). Game 5 tickets are now available at http://everettsilvertips.com/playoffs.

ROUND 3: EVERETT vs TRI-CITY (Tips lead series, 3-1) COVERAGE

GAME 1: at EVERETT 3 – Tri-City 2

GAME 2: Tri-City 5 – at Everett 3

GAME 3: EVERETT 8 – Tri-City 4

GAME 4: EVERETT 3 – Tri-City 1

GAME 5: at EVERETT | Sat., Apr. 28 – 7:05pm (AOTW Arena) Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App

GAME 6: at Tri-City | Mon., Apr. 30 — 7:05pm (Toyota Center) ** Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App

GAME 7: at EVERETT | Tues., May 1 – 7:05pm (AOTW Arena) ** Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App

** If necessary

Both teams and their goaltenders battled through a scoreless tie in the first period with the Silvertips best chance coming on a post that Sean Richards hit, cutting for a backdoor feed at the left post.

In the second period, Riley Sutter capitalized when Anthony Bishop broke his stick at the left circle. Sutter scooped a loose puck, skated in on Patrick Dea and uncorked a snap shot for a 1-0 lead at 9:48 of the second period. The Tips then generated a two-on-one opportunity and Vitelli extended the lead to 2-0 on a snap shot off the rush, beating Dea from the left circle with 2:38 left in the period.

Hart showcased back to back saves earlier in the period including a diving leg pad save and then came out later to challenge and stop Dylan Coughlan’s bid from between the circles.

Riley Sachiko drew Tri-City within a goal on a look from the left circle, slipping a wrister over the right shoulder of Hart at 5:45 of the third period. Hart then racked up nine saves in the period and with Dea pulled for the extra attacker, Matt Fonteyne won a footrace with Jordan Topping for an empty net bid. Topping tripped up Fonteyne on a breakaway, and Fonteyne was awarded a goal at 19:20.

Dea made 23 saves in the loss.

Notes: Silvertips scratches included Dawson Butt, Jameson Murray, Luke Ormsby, Kyle Walker and Ty Westgard … the Tips improved to 7-6 in Game 4 situations on the road, and 3-0 in the postseason … Ondrej Vala’s assist gave him 10 points in the last 8 postseason games.

Silvertips season ticket or mini-plan packages are available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season or by calling (425) 252-5100 .

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