Everett Silvertips take 3-2 series lead against Kelowna | WHL

EVERETT — Not only were the Everett Silvertips finally able to finally kill penalties, Tyler Maxwell added a significant bonus.

Maxwell scored short-handed and the Silvertips killed off three penalties to beat Kelowna 4-0 and take a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven opening round Western Conference series that continues in Kelowna on Saturday night.

The Silvertips came into the game ranked dead last in the playoffs in penalty killing, allowing Kelowna five goals on 12 tries in the series.

This time, Everett killed off three early penalties and Maxwell, who had not scored in the series, scored a minute into the game and then again short-handed to give the Silvertips a 3-0 lead.

Coming to the end of a long penalty killing shift, Maxwell appeared ready just to move the puck down the ice when he realized there was no one in front of him. Suddenly he found some energy in his tired legs and skated in quickly on Kelowna goaltender Mark Guggenberger. Making a move to his right, Maxwell's soft backhanded shot slid through Guggenberger's pads.

Maxwell, who had 33 goals in the regular season, said he wasn't concerned that he hadn't scored in the series coming into the game.

"That's the first shorty in my WHL career so it was really exciting," Maxwell said. "I was tired, but when you get a breakaway chance like that you just forget about it. I just tried the foot race. I just made a move and he was going backwards and it went in."

After losing twice in Kelowna to see the series tied 2-2, the Silvertips came out with far more energy than the Rockets with Maxwell scoring off a rebound on the game's second shift.

Everett goaltender Kent Simpson, getting his third start in the series, made it stand up by celebrating his 18th birthday with 21 saves and a shutout.

"It was definitely something special," Simpson said with a smile. "The boys were really fired up to play tonight and everyone played really well in front of me. We forgot about those two games in Kelowna and took tonight as a fresh start."

Even with the shutout, Simpson wasn't sure he would get the start tonight when the Silvertips can end the series.

"Coach doesn't make a decision until game time," Simpson said. "I have no idea."

The first big challenge for Everett came at 7:26 of the opening period when Shane Harper was called for a phantom holding penalty.

The Rockets had several solid chances, but Simpson was positioned perfectly to knock shots away each time.

The Silvertips took a 2-0 lead 2:01 into the second period when Dan Iwanski, who scored the overtime winner in Game 2, knocked in a rebound after a Ryan Murray shot.

Maxwell's second goal made it 3-0 heading into the final period and Shane Harper made sure there was no drama when he scored his fifth goal of the playoffs, a power play marker, 32 seconds into the third period.

The Silvertips played short two defensemen. Radko Gudas and Chris de la Londe both were out with injuries forcing Zack Dailey, normally a forward on Everett's top line, to switch to defense.