Tri-City Americans put five past Everett Silvertips on Friday night in the WHL, ending a run of futility for the hosts. The game finished 5-0 at the venue, and it was a clean sheet for the home side after their recent defensive struggles.
And here's the thing — we'd backed the visitors to win. Seventy per cent confidence, we said, and the match went the other way entirely. The hosts had lost five straight before this, but something shifted. They threw everything at it and didn't let up.
By then both sides sat on zero points from five games, so the table told the same story for each team. Everett were fifth on goal difference alone, while Tri-City languished in twelfth. This result changes nothing in the standings, but it breaks a pattern for the home side.
The visitors had shown flashes — two wins in five outings — but consistency eluded them. Their recent results read like a list of narrow defeats: 1-3, 2-3, 2-1, 3-2, 2-3. Against a side that had lost every game, they still couldn't find a rhythm.
Tri-City's away form has been poor, but tonight they came out strong. The clean-sheet run came to an end for Everett, who had kept one in their five matches. Five goals without reply is a statement, even if it's just one game.
The hosts remain bottom of their section on points, but they finally have a result to show for their efforts. Everett are still third in the standings, though this loss leaves them looking over their shoulder. Both teams have five games in the tank, and the season is wide open.
