Get those cars tuned up this week Tips fans. Next weekend we’re all going to have to make the long haul over to Spokane for Games 1 and 2 of the first round.
Everett’s playoff fate was sealed tonight. The Tips’ 5-1 loss at Chilliwack, combined with Kelowna’s 6-2 victory over Prince George, consigned Everett to sixth place in the Western Conference. And Tri-City’s 2-1 victory over Spokane — giving the Americans the U.S. Division, Western Conference and WHL regular season titles — means the Chiefs settle for the third seed and a first-round matchup with Everett. It also renders tomorrow’s season finale at Seattle meaningless.
It was an ugly result for Everett tonight, and given the Tips went into the weekend with visions of home-ice advantage in the first round, it’s a major disappointment to be knocked permanently back into sixth after just two games.
But all things considered it’s not a horrible conclusion for Everett. The Tips were 5-3 against Spokane this season. If Everett finished fourth or fifth the Tips probably would have faced Seattle in the first round, a team they’re 2-7 against this season. And with nothing at stake tomorrow the Tips can rest key players if they wish.
By the way, Everett played tonight without captain Jonathan Harty and winger Kyle Beach. Both were suspended one game for actions in Friday’s 3-1 loss against Seattle — Harty for his third fight instigator penalty of the season, Beach for his checking-from-behind major. The most notable thing about that is that Beach only got one game, meaning he’ll be available for both tomorrow and the full playoffs.
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