Opponent: Vancouver Giants
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Scouting report
Gilbert Brule is back. However, the Silvertips don’t have to worry about him just yet.
Brule, who was expected to be the premier player in the league this season, hasn’t played a game for the Giants as the Columbus Blue Jackets attempted to bring him to the NHL as an 18-year-old. However, frequent injuries convinced the Blue Jackets that the gifted playmaker could use more seasoning in junior hockey and reassigned him to the WHL on Thursday. He’s not expected back in Vancouver until next week, but he should be in the lineup when the Tips play host to the Giants on Jan. 21.
Vancouver has been just fine in Brule’s absence. Going into Friday night’s home game against Medicine Hat the Giants were 29-10-0-4, good for the best winning percentage in the Western Conference. But one team they have struggled against is Everett, which won two of the first three meetings this season.
Without Brule, Vancouver focused on playing hard and spreading the wealth. 18-year-old center Tim Kraus (20 goals, 23 assists), 20-year-old left wing Mitch Bartley (19 goals, 23 assists) and 17-year-old left wing Michal Repik (19 goals, 20 assists) have carried the scoring load. Nineteen-year-old goaltender Dustin Slade (23-7-0-4, 1.86 goals against average, .909 save percentage) has had an easy time of it this season, seeing the fewest shots per game of any goalie in the league.
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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