Tips hold on …. again

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, April 5, 2007

It’s become a persistent theme in the playoffs: Everett takes control of the game in the second period, then lets its opponent back in the game in the third. But Everett managed to hold on to open its second-round series against Prince George with a 3-2 victory. In truth, it was almost an exact replica of Game 1 of the first round against Spokane, when the Tips took a 4-0 lead into the third period before Spokane rallied within 4-2. But Everett looked the better team throughout. Even in the third period Everett outshot Prince George 11-6, despite the Cougars having 11 power plays to the Tips’ one. If Dan Gendur doesn’t accidentally turn a centering pass into his own net, and if Prince George goaltender Scott Bowles doesn’t make an incredible glove save on Moises Gutierrez in the third, it’s a 4-1 game. That feels about the right result to me.

Some other thoughts:

– Prince George looked a step slow much of the night. If that was just rust from their nine-day layoff after sweeping Kamloops in the first round, the Cougars may recover. If it’s an indication of Prince George’s usual skating, the Cougars are in for a rough series.

– What do the Cougars do in goal? Bowles looked pretty good for a guy who hadn’t played in three weeks. But was it the right decision to start Bowles after Real Cyr led the team to victory in round one?

– Conspiracy theory? Gendur’s own goal, which made it 3-2, turned his own second-period goal into the game winner. A little stat padding by Mr.Gendur, perhaps? 😉