Irving rebounds, shuts out Chiefs

EVERETT – One night after the earliest hook of his Western Hockey League career, Everett goalie Leland Irving rebounded with a shutout as his Silvertips defeated the Spokane Chiefs 3-0 Saturday night.

Irving was removed just 6 minutes, 44 seconds into Everett’s 5-2 loss to Portland on Friday. But he made 29 saves against Spokane to record his ninth shutout of the season.

Peter Mueller scored two goals – one into an empty net to seal the win – and Zach Hamill added a goal and an assist for the Silvertips (51-12-1-2).

Kevin Armstrong faced just 16 shots for Spokane (34-25-4-3, 75 points).

The loss by Spokane and a ninth straight win by Seattle (77) saw the Chiefs slip into fourth place in the five-team U.S. Division with just six games remaining for Spokane over the next two weeks.

Spokane outshot Everett by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, but Irving came up big with saves in nearly every situation. However, it was his play on the penalty kill which frustrated the Chiefs, who went 0 for 7 on the power play.

Everett’s first two goals came on the same power play midway through the first period.

Hamill made it 1-0 with a rebound goal which came when he was left unattended. Then Mueller blasted in a shot from the point just over a minute later.

Bowman, Falk close

The injuries to Drayson Bowman and Justin Falk (wrists) are healing the quickest out of the four remaining injured Chiefs and both players could be back on the ice next week.

They will have medical appointments on Monday and, under a best-case scenario, may be able to return for next weekend’s home games with Tri-City and Everett.

The injuries to David Linsley (shoulder) and Seth Compton (ankle) are more severe and are taking longer to heal. It is most likely they wouldn’t be available until the playoffs, at the earliest.

Mike Reddington, who played in the recent Canada Winter Games, should rejoin the team early next week.

Silvertips 3, Chiefs 0

First Period—1, Evt, Hamill 31 (Alic, Fransoo) 10:56 (pp); 2, Evt, Mueller 18 (Hamill) 12:01 (pp). Second Period—None. Third Period—3, Evt, Mueller 19 (Gendur) 17:50 (en). Power-play Opp.—Spokane 0 of 7; Everett 2 of 5. Saves—Spokane, Armstrong 13 saves. Everett, Irving 29 saves. A—7,800.