POLL: How will the Silvertips fare at home this week?

The WHL championship series against Swift Current switches to Everett for Games 3, 4 and 5.

The last time a WHL championship series game took place in Everett was May 5, 2004. The arena wasn’t called Angel of the Winds Arena like it is today. It wasn’t even Comcast Arena, it was still referred to as the Everett Events Center.

That was a Wednesday night when the 2003-04 WHL season drew to a close, as the Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Everett Silvertips 4-2 before a sellout crowd to claim the league title in a four-game sweep.

Because of the sweep, there were only two games played in Everett in that year’s championship series. This year we know we’re getting three.

The WHL championship series between the Tips and the Swift Current Broncos switches to Everett this week after Games 1 and 2 took place over the weekend in Swift Current. The teams split the first two contests in the best-of-seven series, which means in the 2-3-2 format all three games scheduled for Everett will be played. Those games are set for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights at Angel of the Winds Arena.

We saw a pair of one-goal games over the weekend. Everett goaltender Carter Hart shined in Game 1 as the Tips prevailed 2-1 despite being outshot 35-25. Then in Game 2 Everett dominated early, building a 3-0 first-period lead, but was unable to hold it as the Broncos won 4-3 in overtime.

The first two games gave us a good look at what to expect from the teams in Games 3, 4 and 5. It’s a classic confrontation of speed versus strength, as Everett appears to be the better skating team, while Swift Current has the size advantage. Both teams shortened their benches considerably, running in essence two-and-a-half lines and two defensive pairings in the first two games. And both teams’ goaltenders made huge saves that preserved their team’s victory.

The loss in Game 2 ended Everett’s perfect road record in the playoffs — the Tips are now 8-1 away from home. So one can argue whether coming back home, where Everett is 5-4 in the postseason, constitutes an advantage for the Tips. Swift Current is 5-5 on the road in the playoffs (versus 8-4 at home).

On the other hand, this series is following the same pattern as the previous three series for Everett. The Tips split the first two games in each of their first three playoff series. Everett followed with three straight victories in both the first and second rounds to dispatch Seattle and Portland, then took three out of four to win in six games against Tri-City in the Western Conference finals.

So how will Everett fare in its three home games in the WHL championship series? Win all three and the Tips are champs. Lose all three and the Ed Chynoweth Cup goes home with the Broncos. Win one or two and the series heads back to Swift Current. Predict your tally here, and make sure you vote early as the poll will close Tuesday prior to the start of Game 3:


Talk to us

More in Sports

The Everett Elite Flag Football 14-under team practices Sunday morning at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo, Washington on January 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Community roundup: 3 Jackson grads to D-I baseball tournament

Plus, Jayden White is headed back to the NCAA track and field nationals, the Silvertips sign their first-round picks and more.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 22-28

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 22-28 Voting closes at… Continue reading

Washington's Sami Reynolds runs the bases against McNeese during an NCAA softball game on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Local softball stars Reynolds, Mahler set for WCWS

Washington’s Sami Reynolds (Snohomish) and Stanford’s River Mahler (Monroe) each play prominent roles on their Pac-12 teams.

The Mariners’ Cal Raleigh smiles as a teammate throws bubblegum at him during an interview after Raleigh hit a single to drive in the winning run against the Yankees during the 10th inning of a game Wednesday in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Raleigh’s RBI single in 10th gives M’s 1-0 win over Yankees

George Kirby pitches one of the best games of his young career with eight shutout innings in Seattle’s 1-0 win.

X
AquaSox top Hops on wild pitch in 11th inning

Everett edges Hillsboro 3-2 in a game with strong pitching on both sides.

Alberto Rodriguez.
Rodriguez puts on power display, leads AquaSox to series win

The 22-year-old outfielder mashed 11 extra-base hits, including six home runs, as Everett took five of seven from Eugene.

Daniel Kim, left, and Ben Borgida, right, chat between holes during the Snohomish County Amateur golf tournament at the Everett Golf and Country Club in Everett, Washington on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Kim soars to 4-shot win in 92nd Snohomish County Amateur

The WSU freshman and Kamiak graduate’s 12-under final total was the historic tournament’s lowest since at least 2010.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge gestures after hitting a solo home-run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)
Judge strikes again, Mariners lose to Yankees

Seattle falls 10-2 for a second consecutive lopsided loss.

Cooper Cummings from the United States celebrates after winning a men's downhill during the Cheese Rolling contest at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, Monday May 29, 2023. The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event where participants race down the 200-yard (180 m) long hill chasing a wheel of double gloucester cheese. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Arlington High School grad is the big cheese after winning UK race

Cooper Cummings, who grew up in Lake Stevens, defeated a world record-holder in Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake.

Most Read