EVERETT — The constant barrage of Portland to start the 2014-15 season presented a major test to the Everett Silvertips.

Following Friday night’s result, it’s safe to say the Tips passed with honors.

Everett controlled they game against the four-time defending WHL Western Conference champions, skating to a 6-2 victory over the Winterhawks at Xfinity Arena.

The Tips opened the season with a daunting schedule, as four of their first six games came against the team that’s run riot over the rest of the U.S. Division the past four years. But Friday’s victory meant Everett took seven of a possible eight points from those four games against Portland.

There were extenuating circumstances in Everett’s previous two victories against the Winterhawks as Portland had several key players missing because of NHL training camps and injuries. However, Portland was essentially at full strength Friday, yet the Tips still produced their most comprehensive victory of the bunch.

“I think this was the best one, for sure,” said Tips winger Carson Stadnyk, who led the way with two goals and an assist. “We all chipped in and played 60 minutes of hockey tonight. Everyone stuck to our systems, we played hard in all the zones, and the score was a result of that. It’s nice beating these guys.”

Ivan Nikolishin added a goal and two assists, while Nikita Scherbak, Ben Betker and Kohl Bauml also scored for Everett (4-0-2-0). Scherbak’s goal meant he’s scored in all three games he’s played for the Tips since arriving via trade from Saskatoon.

Austin Lotz made 23 saves to earn the win in goal for Everett.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nicolas Petan scored for Portland (1-7-0-1). Brendan Burke finished with 34 saves in net for the Winterhawks.

Everett became accustomed to eating Portland’s dust the past four seasons. The Tips played the Winterhawks 10 times each season and never won more than twice. Everett’s three victories in four games this season are halfway to the six wins the Tips managed in their previous 40 encounters with the Winterhawks.

More importantly, the seven points against the Winterhawks staked the Tips to a strong start to the season.

“That’s huge,” Stadnyk said about the points gained. “It would have been nice to get that extra point, too. But getting points against these guys are huge.

“The first two games they didn’t early have their best players — a win is a win, still,” Stadnyk added. “But now they pretty much have their whole team, and to beat them like that, especially by four goals, is really nice. Hopefully we can keep it going the rest of the year.”

Everett opened the scoring at 13 minutes, 48 seconds. Nikolishin arced around the slot and seemed to have skated himself out of shooting position. However, he fired away through traffic from the left half-wall, and the puck eluded Burke to give the Tips a 1-0 lead. Nikolishin nearly made it 2-0 moments later, but when he had time in the slot he shot right into Burke.

Portland then tied it at 18:07. De Leo created a turnover in the neutral zone, skated behind the Everett net, then fed it into the slot for Bjorkstrand, who one timed a shot through Lotz to knot it at 1-1.

The Tips then took control early in the second period. Scherbak restored Everett’s lead just 1:12 in when a puck bounced into the slot and he was able to bat it under Burke to make it 2-1. Then the Tips made it 3-1 on the power play at 4:58 as Stadnyk’s first jam attempt at the post was saved, but he was able to put in his own rebound, prompting Portland coach Jamie Kompon to use his timeout.

Portland was gifted back into the game at 8:27. Everett defenseman Noah Juulsen stumbled and turned the puck over to the Winterhawks’ top line, and Petan eventually put a shot into the top corner to cut Everett’s lead back to one.

But the Tips scored again at 17:54 as Remi Laurencelle found Betker as the trailer on the rush, and Betker fired a shot past Burke’s glove to make it 4-2.

Stadnyk then scored a nearly identical goal to his earlier one 2:02 into the third. He put his breakaway attempt wide, but he stayed with the play, got back to the front of the net, and although his first try was saved he put in his own rebound to make it 5-2.

It was all academic after that. Burke had to make some good saves before Bauml one-timed a feed from Scherbak into the top corner on the rush with 4:11 remaining to put a cherry on top.

Silvertips 6, Winterhawks 2

Portland 1 1 0 — 2

Everett 1 3 2 — 6

First Period—1, Everett, Nikolishin 1 (Stadnyk), 13:48. 2, Portland, Bjorkstrand 3 (De Leo), 18:07. Penalties—Schoenborn, Portland (high sticking), 6:22; Koules, Portland (slashing), 10:20; Scherbak, Everett (slashing), 14:07.

Second Period—3, Everett, Scherbak 4 (Bauml, Davis), 1:12. 4, Everett, Stadnyk 4 (Nikolishin, Juulsen), 4:58 (pp). 5, Portland, Petan 1 (Bjorkstrand), 8:27. 6, Everett, Betker 1 (Laurencelle), 17:54. Penalties—De Leo, Portland (cross checking), 4:46; Turgeon, Portland (hooking), 8:35; Schoenborn, Portland (hooking), 15:09.

Third Period—7, Everett, Stadnyk 5 (Nikolishin), 2:02. 8, Everett, Bauml 2 (Scherbak, Bajkov), 15:49. Penalties—Low, Everett (roughing), 7:49; Czaikowski, Portland (holding), 16:40.

Shots on goal—Portland 7-7-11—25. Everett 14-12-14—40. Power-play opportunities—Portland 0 of 2. Everett 1 of 6.

Goalies—Portland, Burke 1-4-0-1 (40 shots, 34 saves). Everett, Lotz 3-0-1-0 (25 shots, 23 saves).

A—4,233.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.