Three takeaways from the Silvertips home opening loss to Vancouver

1. R-E-L-A-X: Where are the goals going to come from? That’s not a question people need to dwell on right now.

Tips’ captain Connor Dewar netted his first goal of the season and the second for Everett in Saturday’s loss, but that’s all the Silvertips could muster. It doesn’t appear promising, but there’s no reason to panic.

Everett is working with a thin forward group and went up against one of the league’s most talented goaltenders in David Tendeck. It’s possible the likes of Dewar, Riley Sutter and Martin Fasko-Rudas will need some help up front, and thankfully Everett general manager Garry Davidson has plenty of flexibility to add with a 20-year-old spot open. The power play will also take some time to gel — remember, many of the members of the Tips’ power-play unit just returned from NHL training camps.

Seeley shows promise: Ronan Seeley, the Silvertips’ first-round pick in 2017 Bantam Draft, didn’t show up much on the scoresheet, but the Yellowknife native flashed plenty of potential in his first WHL game, especially in the Tips’ offensive zone.

It will take Seeley awhile to fully acclimate himself to the league, but Saturday was encouraging for Everett’s backline, which is already deep.

Vancouver could take B.C. division: The Giants boast a deep forward contingent and a stellar goaltender. Especially with Kelowna rebuilding, the Giants could be the strongest team in other Western Conference division.

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Around the WHL

In the U.S Division…

— Seattle edged Portland, 5-3, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. in both squad’s season-openers. A pair of third-period goals from Portland’s Seth Jarvis wasn’t enough to overcome a 4-1 deficit after two. Zack Andrusiak finished with a goal and two assists to lead the T-Birds.

— Noah Yaremko scored a pair of goals and Tri-City dropped Spokane, 6-1, in both team’s season-openers at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Wash. Spokane was without many of its studs, as Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Ty Smith are both with their respective NHL teams.

Elsewhere…

— Life after Everett continues to be bright for former Silvertips player and assistant coach Mitch Love, as he won his second game as a WHL head coach as the Saskatoon Blades boatraced Swift Current, 8-0. Kirby Dach chipped in a hat trick and boasts seven points over the first two games.

— Brandon topped Moose Jaw, 4-2, despite Josh Brock netting a pair of goals

— Prince Albert topped Regina, 3-1, to capture second consecutive win. Cole Fonstad was credited with two goals and an assist.

— Edmonton topped Red Deer, 4-1.

— Kootenay opens its regular season with a 5-3 win over Calgary.

— Lethbridge bested Medicine Hat, 4-2. Highly-touted 2019 NHL Draft prospect and the reigning WHL rookie of the year, Dylan Cozens, scored a goal for the Hurricanes.

— Former Silvertip Orrin Centazzo scored a goal and Dylan Ferguson stopped 39-of-40 shots in net to lead Kamloops over Kelowna, 3-1.

— Victoria defeated Prince George, 5-1.