Game 5: Everett 4, Kelowna 0
Published 11:08 pm Friday, March 26, 2010
TALKING POINTS
A comprehensive victory by Everett tonight as the Tips took a 3-2 series lead. Everett came into the game needing to respond after losing two-goal leads in both games in Kelowna, and the Tips responded in grand fashion.
At the start one had to wonder just what to expect from Everett. The Tips were down two of their top four defensemen as both Radko Gudas and Chris de la Lande sat with upper-body injuries. That forced a shuffling of the pack as forward Zack Dailey skated as a defenseman, winger Tyler Maxwell moved into Dailey’s spot alongside Shane Harper and Chris Langkow, and Markus McCrea was promoted onto a line with Byron Froese and Kellan Tochkin. How would a team coming off back-to-back disappointing losses respond, particularly with all the changes?
The Tips responded with a lot of positives. Everett came out hitting with Harper, of all people, leading the charge. Everett’s leading scorer turned into a wrecking ball tonight, and although he was called for a couple of penalties, it seemed to set the tone for the Tips. Everett’s penalty kill also turned things around, holding the Rockets 0-for-3 and even scoring a short-handed goal. And a makeshift defense kept Kelowna’s defense quiet, with the pairing of Ryan Murray and Curtis Kulchar particularly strong. As a result Kelowna never threatened to come back the way the Rockets did in the previous two games.
It also seemed like the Rockets were a little tired tonight. Kelowna’s top players logged a ton of minutes in Wednesday’s double-overtime game, and they didn’t seem to have the same jump or sharpness tonight. I thought it was telling that Kelowna star defenseman Tyson Barrie was planted on the bench during most of the third period.
TURNING POINT
The game’s telling moment came midway through the second period. Everett was ahead 2-0, but Kelowna was on the power play. The Rockets were 4-for-5 with the advantage in the two games in Kelowna, but Everett’s Tyler Maxwell intercepted a pass at the blue line and scored a breakaway short-handed goal. That essentially ended the game as a contest, and was also symbolic of Everett’s turnaround from the games in Kelowna.
HIT OF THE DAY
One minute into the game Everett’s Chris Langkow slammed into the boards, causing one of the glass panels to come loose. Right after Maxwell scored the game’s opening goal.
THREE STARS
First star: Maxwell. Two goals, the first goals of the series for the player who scored 33 during the regular season.
Second star: Kent Simpson, Everett. 21 saves and a shutout on his 18th birthday.
Third star: Harper. One goal, but it was his physical play that was that shined tonight.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Murray. One assist, is this kid really just 16?
BOX SCORE
SCHEDULE
Game 1: Everett 5, Kelowna 4 (OT)
Game 2: Everett 5, Kelowna 2
Game 3: Kelowna 5, Everett 3
Game 4: Kelowna 5, Everett 4 (2OT)
Game 5: Everett 4, Kelowna 0, Everett leads series 3-2
Game 6: Everett at Kelowna, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Kelowna at Everett, Monday, 7:05 p.m.
