Scoreboard watching

Published 10:47 am Wednesday, February 9, 2011

It’s a slow week for the Silvertips, with five full days off between games — the last time that happens this season. However, several of the teams involved in the playoff race with Everett have midweek games, and with the Tips idle those are the scores to keep an eye on.

First, there was last night. Prince George, which is right ahead of Everett in the standings in sixth in the Western Conference, began its long trip through the Central Division, with five games in six nights. It was an inauspicious beginning for the Cougars as they blew a three-goal third-period lead in falling 6-5 at Edmonton. That burns one of Prince George’s games in hand on seventh-place Everett. The Cougars still lead the Tips by a single point, having played one fewer game.

Then there’s tonight. The Cougars are in action again, this time against Medicine Hat. However, the most-relevant game from a Tips standpoint is probably game between Seattle and Kamloops in Kamloops. Both the T-birds and the Blazers are chasing Everett in the standings. Kamloops is in eighth, five points behind Everett having played two more games than the Tips. Seattle is in 10th, seven points behind Everett having played the same number of games. I’m not sure what result Tips fans should be rooting for, other than the game ending in regulation. But if you need a midweek hockey fix, that’s the game to check out.