Seattle 2, Everett 1
Published 11:03 pm Friday, November 30, 2007
TALKING POINTS
Ugh. What an ugly game. If a fisherman were to find this one clinging to the end of his line, he’d toss it back in a hurry. Thirty total shots on goal, including a pitiful 12 by Everett. On a night when there was a sellout with everyone itching to ring their cowbells, it had to be classified a disappointment.
Everett’s shot total is an indication of what Kyle Beach means to this team. Beach was scratched for internal discipline reasons, and without him Everett created nothing until the last five minutes. Beach is expected back in the lineup tomorrow against Vancouver. For the Tips’ sake he better not do anything else to get himself disciplined.
Everett did have right wing Dan Gendur (shoulder) and defenseman Dane Crowley (concussion) back from their injuries, but neither appeared up to speed. Gendur in particular looked gassed about 10 seconds into each of his shifts.
Having watched these two teams play twice in six days, I’ve got to say that what I saw was two teams that don’t look like they’re headed anywhere. In a division where both Spokane and Tri-City are flying high, each of these teams need to improve dramatically to keep up.
TURNING POINT
It took an ugly goal to decide an ugly game as Scott Jackson’s wrister from the top of the left circle snuck under Shayne Barrie’s arm and into the net, breaking a 1-1 tie 4:51 into the third period.
HIT OF THE DAY
Jackson shouldered down Matt Ius as Ius tried to enter the zone. Ius skated off and did not return to the game.
THREE STARS
First star: Scott Jackson, Seattle. Well, at least his goal made sure we avoided OT and a shootout. With Fridays having the 7:35 p.m. starts, that would have destroyed my deadline.
Second star: Shane Harper, Everett. With little to choose from, setting up a goal gets you honored.
Third star: Bud Holloway, Seattle. Showed pretty good energy for a guy who played Wednesday night in Cranbrook and Thursday night in Medicine Hat.
The Herald’s honorable mention: The fans. It takes effort to maintain enthusiasm when presented a game like that.
LINEUP NOTES
For Everett, in addition to Beach the Tips also gave the night off to their two Thursday participants in the Canada-Russia Challenge — goaltender Leland Irving suited up but did not play, and center Vitali Karamnov was scratched. Tyler Eskesen was a healthy scratch, meaning the Tips dressed seven defesemen. Neither of the two prospects in town, goaltender Kent Simpson and center Byron Froese, were added to the roster.
Seattle welcomed back two of its injured players. Jackson was back after sitting out 13 games with a sprained ankle, and right wing Josh Schappert returned after missing 10 games with a lower-back strain. With Jackson back Seattle released defenseman Todd Panchyson, nullifying the conditional draft pick the T-birds would have owed the Winter Hawks had Panchyson still been on the roster on Dec. 15. Defenseman Jeremy Schappert remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, forwards Isak Quakenbush and Josh Lazowski were healthy scratches.
