EVERETT – Much of the reason the surprising Everett Silvertips have reached Game 6 of the WHL’s Western Conference finals is the standard they have spent all season perfecting.
Work relentlessly, never back down, never stop competing. Good things, then, can happen.
The first-year Silvertips haven’t played flawless hockey in this increasingly interesting series against the defending WHL champion Rockets. But neither have they put forth any less than an all-out effort. When a team is made up of players that other teams didn’t want, that’s the way it has to be to get into the position Everett has reached.
“That’s the intention of laying a body on them every night,” Silvertips captain Brian Nathe, whose fluke shot Saturday night got past Kelowna goalie Kelly Guard in overtime for a 1-0 victory and pulled Everett into a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series. “Hopefully, we’re wearing them down.”
Game 6 is tonight at the Everett Events Center. Game 7, if necessary, is Tuesday at Kelowna.
The Silvertips had every reason to pack it up during Saturday’s Game 5. They had lost three straight to the Rockets, including the last two at the Everett Events Center. Few Everett followers could have been dissatisfied had Kelowna found a way to close out the series at Prospera Place. Yet, the Silvertips showed early they wouldn’t go down quietly, matching the Rockets hit for hit and taking the game into overtime.
“You just kind of put on your equipment and go out and play,” Nathe said. “You play your heart out and whatever happens, happens and hope for the best. (Saturday night) we got a lucky bounce and they tripped up.”
The first period Saturday was crucial, Silvertips Kevin Constantine said.
“Maybe we won that game because we showed up with an attitude that we’re not just going to roll over and die; we’re going to fight for this thing,” he said. “In the first period, we did fight for it and we played a reasonably good first.
“But this team’s history says that that’s the way we’re going to play. At 0-4-1, we could have quit during the year. Most people didn’t pick us to win the first round … I think most people picked Vancouver in the next round. These guys have never looked at things like, ‘Well, it says on paper that we’re supposed to lose, so let’s go lose.’ They’ve always said the opposite.”
They’ve had to. This isn’t the Detroit Red Wings. It’s an expansion team. And to survive each game, it’s had to make up for certain shortcomings with whatever positives they bring to the ice.
“We’ve always said to ourselves that, because we don’t necessarily have the top skill guys in the league, there are a number of other things we have to do well to have a chance,” Constantine said. “One is outstanding goaltending. We’ve always said work ethic. And we’ve always said discipline. And if those three core things aren’t there, it’s difficult for us to win.
“There are other teams that could be missing those on a given night and maybe win a 6-4 game, but we don’t think we can.”
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