The playoffs begin Friday for Everett

Yes, the playoffs don't officially begin until the fourth week of March. However, for the Silvertips they may as well start with their two-game trip to Prince George this weekend. Here's how the bottom four teams in the Western Conference currently stand:

7. Seattle, 45 GP, 36 Pts
8. Victoria, 48 GP, 35 Pts
9. Prince George, 46 GP, 32 Pts
10. Everett, 49 GP, 29 Pts

So Everett has some work to do. Not only do the Tips have to make up six points, they also have to pass two teams, despite having the fewest remaining games. However, the trade deadline worked in Everett's favor. Seattle (Marcel Noebels), Victoria (Kevin Sundher) and Prince George (Martin Marincin) all traded away their best skater, while simultaneously Everett got Ryan Murray back from a long absence.

And most importantly, the schedule gives the Tips every opportunity to make up ground. Everett has 23 games remaining. Of those 23, four are against Seattle, four are against Victoria and two are against Prince George. Win those games and Everett is in the playoffs. So it starts this weekend against the Cougars. It's do-or-die time for the Tips -- two months earlier than normal.

Speaking of Murray, the news today was that Murray was named captain of Team Cherry for the CHL Top Prospects Game, which takes place Wednesday in Kelowna. Murray will be one of the premier players taking part in the game, which features the best CHL players eligible for the upcoming NHL draft.