EVERETT — The new year has arrived and the holiday season is officially over for the Everett Silvertips. The days of family celebrations and extravagant home-cooked meals have passed.
Now it’s on to the grind.
Everett begins its busiest stretch of the season when it plays host to the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight at Comcast Arena. The Tips play 15 games during the next 25 days, a stretch that includes three four-game weeks and two three-in-three weekends.
“It’s a lot of games,” said winger Ryan Harrison, Everett’s hottest player with five points over the past two games. “Obviously there’s not going to be much time to dwell on any losses or wins. We’re just going to have to go night-to-night, have the same gameplan and play every game like it’s a must-win. Coming down this stretch, for us to make the playoffs we need to win a lot more than we lose.”
Everett’s next four weeks include seven home games and eight on the road, including a two-game set at distant Prince George to conclude the stretch. Nine of those games are against U.S. Division rivals, including four versus Spokane. All 15 games are against Western Conference foes. So Everett, currently 10 points out of playoff position, has a chance to make up ground in a hurry.
And although it constitutes a heavy burden, Everett’s players are looking forward to the heavy game schedule.
“If you’re hot, then you keep on going and continue playing well,” Harrison said. “If you don’t play so well one night, you don’t have to wait to redeem yourself. You get another chance the next night.”
The key to navigating such a busy schedule is taking care of oneself physically, which is something the players recognize.
“You just have to make sure you’re doing the right things, looking after your body,” said defenseman Evan Morden, one of three players, along with winger Cody Fowlie and defenseman Brennan Yadlowski, who’s appeared in all 36 of Everett’s games so far this season. “But as a player you’ve got to love being in the games, especially against teams in our division.
“You have to make sure you’re getting your rest, making sure you’re staying hydrated and making sure you’re eating the right things, too,” Morden added. “Those are probably the three big things.”
Everett coach Mark Ferner is cognizant of the situation and is taking his own steps to help the team hold up to the grind.
“We have to manage our practice time,” Ferner said. “We’re getting healthier. We’re going to have lots of bodies here — though saying that we have a trade deadline coming up (next Tuesday). So, it’s just making sure we’re as fresh as possible and knowing what our expectations are.”
The good news for Everett is that the Tips should have plenty of bodies available for the busy stretch. The team currently has 29 players on the roster, which is four more than the limit. However, the Tips are exempted because of players on the long-term injury list and those away on international duty.
The unavailable players should begin trickling back soon.
Forwards Manraj Hayer (leg) and Zach McPhee (knee), who are both on the long-term injury list, have been practicing at full speed and are considered game-time decisions for tonight’s game. Goaltender Austin Lotz, who’s been playing with Team West at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge, is scheduled to return Thursday.
Defenseman Ryan Murray (Canada) and winger Vladimir Dolnik (Slovakia), who are representing their countries at the World Junior Hockey Championships, could be back as soon as the weekend. If Everett can avoid injuries over the next week, Ferner could soon find himself able to field a first-choice lineup for the first time this season.
“I think we’re good,” Morden said about the team’s physical condition. “We’re coming off a long break and I think we’re at the point where we have our legs back and are ready to go.”
The Tips will have to be, because over the next 25 days Everett won’t have a chance to regroup.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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