Game 1: Spokane 5, Everett 2

Published 10:54 pm Friday, March 21, 2008

TALKING POINTS

Well, not the way the Tips wanted to start the series. Coach John Becanic stressed the importance of emotional control all week, but it wasn’t there tonight. Everett gave Spokane eight power plays, and the red-hot Chiefs power play converted four times. Three of those came on Spokane’s first three chances as the Chiefs jumped out to a 3-0 lead and cruised from there. Two of the Everett penalties during that stretch were behind the play, suggesting the Tips still have some work to do in regards to that emotional control.

(Side note: For those who are wondering, Kyle Beach wasn’t really the problem tonight, and I thought Beach actually was more effective tonight than he has been lately)

The other critical factor was Tips goaltender Leland Irving was not sharp. He got beat three times by shots from the top of the circle, something you just don’t see often from Irving. He only lasted 23:37 tonight before getting the hook, but Becanic said he’d be back between the pipes tomorrow.

The one positive thing Everett can take from this game is that they matched the Chiefs five-on-five. If the Tips play this way at even strength throughout the series they’ve still got a shot — provided the discipline improves and Irving snaps back to his regular self.

As far as the Everett lineup goes, Taylor Ellington made his return tonight. The stalwart defenseman missed the last 21 games of the regular season because of a fractured bone in his foot. He appeared to be right back up to speed, and his return meant the Tips were at full strength for the first time since December. The other lineup note was Chris de la Lande got the call as the Tips’ sixth defenseman ahead of Tyler Kieffer. I wasn’t necessarily expecting that, but de la Lande has played well enough to earn the nod.