TALKING POINTS
Well, this probably wasn’t the way the Tips wanted to conclude the preseason.
Everett iced a strong lineup, while Seattle scratched several of its veterans. Everett coach Mark Ferner emphasized getting off to a strong start after the Tips were dominated in the first period by Seattle a night earlier, yet the Tips trailed 2-0 less than two minutes into the game. Everett did rally after falling behind 4-1, but by then it was too late.
Everett had a few bright spots — Carson Stadnyk had a good game up front, defenseman Mirco Mueller continues to look like a quality find and even showed some unexpected feistiness. But if Everett wants to stretch its playoff streak to 10 straight seasons, Seattle is the type of team the Tips will have to beat. By the way, the season hasn’t even started yet and already it seems these teams don’t like one another.
Austin Lotz went the distance in goal for Everett for the second straight night. Interesting. The Tips have two goaltenders competing for the back-up job in Andy Desautels and Troy Trombley, yet neither played a minute this weekend. Has a decision already been made?
Everett finished the preseason 3-4, but that record is a little deceiving since two of those wins came against opponents that played almost completely rookie teams.
Afterward, when asked if he thought his team was ready for the regular season, Ferner’s answer was an emphatic no. So there’s lots of work to be done in the week leading up to next Saturday’s opener at home against Prince George.
TURNING POINT
Everett, which trailed 4-1 early in the second period, rallied within one, then had the better scoring chances early in the third. However, Ryan Chynoweth took a holding penalty, then at the tail end of the resulting power play the Tips were gassed after being long shifted, giving Justin Hickman the opportunity to find Luke Lockhart on the back door for the back-breaking goal.
HIT OF THE DAY
Early in the first period Everett’s Lucas Grayson put a hit on Jared Hauf into the boards that drew a strong reaction from the crowd.
THREE STARS
No stars in the preseason.
BOX SCORE
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