EVERETT – For the second consecutive night the Everett Silvertips battled back from two separate deficits only to fall in overtime as the Portland Winterhawks won for the first time this season 3-2 Saturday night at XFINITY Arena. Despite the back-to-back overtime defeats, the ‘Tips earned two points on the weekend to remain atop the U.S. Division and have yet to lose in regulation this season.

Nikita Scherbak scored his third goal in two days in the contest, while Remi Laurencelle scored his second goal in as many days for the ‘Tips as well. Logan Aasman tallied his first point of the season with an assist, with Kevin Davis and Dawson Leedahl contributing assists. Goaltender Carter Hart (1-1-0-0) made a number of quality saves among his 28 on the night in goal.

An evenly-matched first period saw a few scoring chances at both ends of the ice. After back-and-forth play for most of the period, Chase De Leo deflected in a Layne Viveiros shot from the blue line to get Portland on the board at 11:49. The Winterhawks held a 12-11 edge on the shot clock after the first 20 minutes of play.

Everett scored a powerplay goal early in the second frame to tie the game at one. Kohl Bauml found Nikita Scherbak from behind the net and Scherbak rifled a shot along the near post from the right boards for the ‘Tips first goal of the game just 13 seconds into the advantage. The tie would be short lived as Tyson Predinchuk beat goaltender Cart Hart off the rush to put the Winterhawks back in front. With time winding down in the period, Remi Laurencelle jammed in the rebound of a deflected Logan Aasman pass to tie the game for a second time. The Silvertips took a 21-20 lead in shots heading into the dressing room with the game tied at two.

The intensity picked up in the third period and Hart made a number of solid saves to keep Portland off the board. Shots evened out to 28 apiece after 60 minutes with neither team breaking the tie to force overtime for the second consecutive night. Everett got pinned in the defensive zone midway through the OT and was unable to clear the puck before Alex Schoenborn’s centering pass caromed in off traffic in front with help from Miles Koules to give the ‘Hawks a 3-2 victory.

Portland’s Brendan Burke (1-2-0-1) stopped 26 of 28 shots through nearly 63 minutes of play as the Winterhawks finished with a 31-28 shot edge. Each time had only one powerplay chance in the game, with the ‘Tips scoring on theirs and killing off the Portland opportunity.

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After five days off, the Silvertips will face the Winterhawks again for the fourth time in 14 days their next time out. The ‘Hawks visit XFINITY Arena next Friday for a 7:35 pm opening puck drop as the ‘Tips bid for their first home victory of the season.

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