EVERETT — The results weren’t pretty for the Everett Silvertips.
Last weekend Everett had its WHL Western Conference showdown against the Kelowna Rockets. The Rockets were the top team in the league, while Everett was the U.S. Division leader and on a roll. So it was a chance for the Tips to measure themselves against the best — and a chance to announce themselves among the league’s top contenders.
But if the weekend’s two games in Kelowna were a heavyweight prizefight, the Rockets won by unanimous decision.
Kelowna put Everett in its place, outlasting the Tips 5-3 in the first game Friday, then thrashing Everett 9-3 in the second game Saturday to reassert its position as the team to beat in the conference.
Yet despite the lopsided results, the Tips came away from the two games feeling confident about their ability to compete with the Rockets.
“We definitely can play right with them,” was Everett overage forward Brayden Low’s evaluation of the team’s performance against Kelowna. “The first game we were right there the whole time. I think it was a pretty good measuring stick for the guys to know we’re right at the top with those guys. Obviously the second game wasn’t a good indication of what type of team we are.”
Everett entered the weekend with a chance to put a little heat on Kelowna for first place in the conference, as the Tips trailed the Rockets by just seven points in the standings. However, the two losses allowed Kelowna to stretch its advantage back to double digits, which is where it’s been most of the season against the rest of the west.
Nevertheless, the Tips were emphasizing the positive following Tuesday’s informal practice at Xfinity Arena.
“There were a lot of guys competing hard,” said Tips winger Patrick Bajkov, who scored goals in both games. “You can only ask for so much during these long stretches. I thought we stuck with it all right. It got away at the end, obviously, but you just have to prepare for next time.”
The first game was an even contest. Everett outshot Kelowna 31-26, and it was an empty-net goal in the game’s dying seconds that created the two-goal final margin.
The deciding factor ended up being special teams. Kelowna scored on both of its power-play chances as Everett couldn’t find a way to stop the Rockets when they had the advantage. Meanwhile, the Tips struggled mightily on their own power play, rarely creating any scoring chances during their first three opportunities before finally scoring a power-play goal on their fourth try with less than minute remaining.
“It felt pretty even, and at the end of the game we felt pretty disappointed we didn’t win the game,” Low said.
But the second game was a different story. Everett was playing its fourth road game in five nights, as well as finishing up a stretch in which 12 of its 14 games were on the road — including its two lengthy bus rides of the season. In addition, injuries to defenseman Jordan Wharrie and winger Gunnar Wegleitner earlier on the trip meant the Tips played a skater short in Saturday’s contest.
Meanwhile, the Rockets were hitting their stride. Kelowna spent Friday shaking off the rust from having had a full week off prior to the contest. The Rockets were back up to full speed by Saturday’s game.
The net result was perhaps inevitable. Everett hung tough through one period, scoring the game’s first goal and heading into the first intermission tied 1-1. But a stretch of three goals in five minutes early in the second period essentially signaled the end for the Tips.
“I think the three weeks of combined travel took its toll in the last game,” Low said.
“It just kind of got away from us,” Low added. “I can’t really pinpoint one certain area, we just didn’t play our best game. And not making any excuses, but there were a lot of tired bodies in that locker room. We fought pretty hard up there with a lot of guys battling through sickness.”
Make no mistake, the Tips acknowledge Kelowna’s qualities.
“They have a very skilled forward group,” Low said. “You’re always careful with the puck and puck management, but you have to be especially careful against those guys. If pucks get turned over they’re going to burn you the other way, and their defensive group moves the puck as soon as they get it. They’re just a great team.”
But the Tips won’t be in awe when the teams meet for the final time in the regular season on March 3 in Everett.
“I think we can play with a team like that,” Bajkov said. “Yeah, they’re a good team, but we’ve got a good team in our locker room as well. If we compete just as hard I think we have a good chance.”
Injury update
While both Wharrie and Wegleitner were hurt on the road trip, both escaped serious injury. Wharrie had to be helped from the ice following a knee-on-knee hit last Tuesday at Prince George, but he’s expected to be back on his skates soon and is not listed on this week’s injury report. Wegleitner, who was knocked out of Friday’s game following a big hit from Kelowna defenseman Josh Morrissey, practiced in full Tuesday. Winger Logan Aasman remains out indefinitely because of concussion symptoms, but Everett general manager Garry Davidson said during Friday’s television broadcast that Aasman may be able to resume skating soon.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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