Lost weekend/reader question of the week

Published 1:17 pm Sunday, December 7, 2008

Let me preface this by saying that I did not see this weekend’s games in Prince George. I do not know how the Tips looked, I don’t know how the Cougars looked, so my ability to comment on the games is limited.

That being said, I can’t imagine a team being much more disappointed about two points than those Everett earned in its back-to-back overtime losses at Prince George this weekend.

Let’s begin by pointing out that Prince George is a team that was playing so badly that the Cougars FIRED THEIR COACH earlier in the week. Four wins in their past 22 games. Yes, I know the theory about a team receiving a bump after going through a coaching change. But it sure appeared this was a team ripe for the picking.

Then there’s the nature of the overtime losses. Both times Everett had leads going into the third period. The first night the Tips couldn’t hold a two-goal lead. Last night Everett couldn’t hold a one-goal lead created with just 3:40 remaining. Four points were right there for the taking for Everett, but the Tips refused to reach out and grab them.

And then there’s the nature of the game-winning goals. Again, I did not see the shots, maybe they were something beyond belief. But for a team that’s had question marks about its goaltending, it’s not good when both goalies get beat with shots from the point to end a game.

Finally, there’s Kyle Beach. It sounded like Beach got demoted to the third line for last night’s game. He took three minor penalties which I believe, based on the game call, were all taken either away from the play or in the offensive zone. Prince George scored on two of the ensuing power plays. Once again, I did not see the game, but it sure doesn’t appear that Beach reacted well to the demotion. Or is this fallout from not being invited to Team Canada’s selection camp for World Juniors?

But hey, I guess the Tips should be grateful for their overtime-loss points. Despite the disaster, Everett still continued to move forward points wise, putting more distance between itself and the teams outside the playoff zone — the Tips remain in fifth place in the conference and are 11 points ahead of ninth-place Chilliwack. When the season started, with so many players lost from last season, the goal was simply to make the playoffs. Young and inexperienced teams tend to go through swings like this (though I’m not sure its the young and inexperienced players who are most responsible for the current swoon), and perhaps the Tips will redeem themselves by upsetting high-flying Calgary on Tuesday.

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With the Tips playing a rare Tuesday game, it seems prudent to get the reader interaction going a day earlier this week. So I’m going use the preceding as a lead-in for this week’s question. What I want to hear from you is: What are your thoughts about the weekend in Prince George? Should the Tips feel concern about what transpired, or is it just a minor blip? If you are concerned, what are those concerns and how should the Tips address them? As always I’ll monitor the conversation, join in when possible, and try to answer any questions you might bring to the table.