The Portland Winterhawks fell 4-2 Tuesday to the Everett Silvertips at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Everett pulled within two points of Portland atop the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference.
It was the last game before the league’s holiday break for the Winterhawks, who were playing without six regulars.
Everett jumped to a 2-0 in the first period. Portland twice pulled within a goal, but Everett put the game away with an empty-net goal in the waning seconds.
Chase De Leo and Paul Bittner scored for Portland.
The Hawks will be off Dec. 27 when they travel to face the Tri-City Americans.
