TALKING POINTS
Well, you can’t fault Everett’s physical play tonight. The Tips came out hitting everything that moved, and in the third period Tips defenseman Taylor Ellington threw a check that shattered one of the glass panels. But the physical play wasn’t enough to change the game’s outcome.
Everett’s effort was a u-turn from the way it played in Wednesday’s 8-0 thrashing at the hands of the Giants. However, I think this game illustrates just how big a gap in ability exists between Vancouver and a depleted Everett. Even when dominating the physical play the Tips were outshot 51-24, simply because right now they don’t have the horses to compete with a top team like Vancouver. If Everett’s at full strength it has a chance in this game, and if the 2006-07 team played like this there might be a Memorial Cup banner hanging in Comcast Arena rather than Pacific Coliseum.
The bad news is Everett’s injury-of-the-night program continued. This time it was defenseman Mike Alexander who left the game after turning an ankle. Who knows how many Everett players will be able to take the ice tomorrow in Kent.
TURNING POINT
This game never really turned. Everett pretty much hit all night, and Vancouver pretty much had the puck all night.
HIT OF THE DAY
Everett threw a a lot of big hits tonight. But it’s hard to argue with the hit Ellington put on James Wright that shattered a glass panel, delaying the game several minutes.
THREE STARS
First star: Craig Cunningham, Vancouver. Strong and shifty on the puck along the boards, no Everett defenseman seemed to be able to stay with him.
Second star: Thomas Heemskerk, Everett. Excellent game by Everett’s goalie as he made 48 saves.
Third star: Jamie Tucker, Vancouver. 24 saves, has now played 180 minutes against Everett in his career and has yet to allow a goal.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Ellington. How can you not give him a nod for that hit?
LINEUP NOTES
Everett finally got a player back as left wing Tyler Parker returned from sitting out one game with a back injury. His return was critical as the Tips would otherwise have been short of a full lineup because of injuries to forwards Daniel Bartek (hand), Tyler Maxwell (knee), Dale Hunt (concussion) and Paul Van de Velde (shoulder) and defenseman Trevor Bauer (concussion). Call-up forward D.Jay McGrath saw action in his third straight game. The Tips continued to load up one line as Shane Harper remained with Kellan Tochkin and Byron Froese.
Vancouver was still without top defenseman Jonathon Blum because of a shoulder injury. Forwards Lance Bouma (hand) and Mike Piluso (shoulder) are also injured. Forward Todd Kennedy was a healthy scratch.
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