TALKING POINTS
OK, I know this game was meaningless, and yes, Everett did rest a couple veterans tonight. But this is completely unacceptable. The worst loss in franchise history? The first time ever giving up double digits? That’s not the way to end a season or go into the playoffs.
And this isn’t anything new. This is the fourth time since Jan. 24 the Tips have lost by seven goals or more. I couldn’t tell you exactly why this team has made a habit of getting blown out, but there has to be some accountability somewhere along the line.
Everett was bad in all zones tonight. Goaltender Kent Simpson struggled, but he was give no help by his defense. And Everett couldn’t get any pressure on an emergency call-up goaltender until after the score was 8-0.
Simpson was left in to absorb the entire brunt. When asked why he wasn’t pulled in favor of regular starter Thomas Heemskerk, Tips coach John Becanic didn’t elaborate beyond, “There’s a reason behind it.” He said the same about defenseman Taylor Ellington, who skated off grimacing during the second intermission and didn’t play in the third period, though he was on the bench. Funny how WHL coaches always get vague once the playoffs arrive.
TURNING POINT
No turns tonight. This one was one-sided the duration.
HIT OF THE DAY
The hitting really picked up during a spell of the third period, and I don’t feel comfortable picking one because I wouldn’t say any one hit stood above the rest.
THREE STARS
First star: Jeremy Boyer, Seattle. Hat trick.
Second star: Devon LeBlanc, Seattle. A goal and four assists in a big offensive night for a grinder.
Third star: Kyle Jahraus, Seattle. A 27-shot shutout for the call-up goalie, had nothing to do for 45 minutes but made big saves in the third period.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Stefan Warg, Seattle. The d-man scored his first WHL goal and also played physical.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett, playing its fourth game in five nights and with nothing to play for, gave a few veterans a rest as captain Zack Dailey and defenseman Mike Alexander were healthy scratches. Right wing Dale Hunt (concussion) and defenseman Paul Sohor (lower body) are still dealing with knocks, and forward Ryan White was the other healthy scratch, meaning another game for call-up forward Campbell Elynuik. Defenseman Ryan Murray, the team’s first-round pick in last year’s bantam draft, was supposed to arrive this morning, but was not in the lineup and I didn’t see him sitting with the other scratches.
Seattle didn’t have the luxury of resting players, even though the T-birds locked up fifth the night before, because of injuries to centers Prab Rai (ankle) and Lindsay Nielsen (ankle), defenseman Steve Chaffin (shoulder) and goaltender Jacob DeSerres (groin). Jahraus was called up to give Calvin Pickard, who started 16 straight games, a break. Defenseman Mitch Berg was a healthy scratch.
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