So the Tips split a couple of one-goal road games this weekend. This team is still difficult to figure out. In Kelowna they’re blowing out the Rockets 4-1 before allowing Kelowna to take the initiative and having to hold on to win 4-3. Then in Vancouver they’re getting played off the ice but are still in position to win until a late official-aided goal gives the Giants a 3-2 win.
First, a comment on Vancouver’s winning goal, as I happened to be there. In my opinion, the decision by the referee to force Everett goaltender Leland Irving to play a puck he’d caught was pretty brutal. The only times you usually see that is if there’s no opposing player in the neighborhood, but Irving had a Giant right in front of him. And make no mistake, even though it was a few moments before Vancouver ultimately scored, it was that decision that led to the goal. The consensus in the press box seemed to be that the whistle should have been blown.
However, Everett had no business taking anything away from that game anyway as Vancouver was clearly the better team. Only heroics by Irving kept Everett in it. Somehow the Tips have made a habit of taking two points away from Pacific Coliseum despite being badly outplayed. There’s no way that trend is going to last.
So this weeked did little to answer the questions surrounding the Tips, beyond reinforcing the fact that Irving is back to top form. I still don’t know where this team is going. Is it going to find secondary scoring? Are the younger players going to step up and start producing? Is this team going to reach its potential, or is it going to scuffle around .500 all season?
Fortunately for the Tips it’s a long season and eight of the 10 teams in the Western Conference make the playoffs, meaning Everett has time to get things figured out. However, it might be a while before we find out one way or the other.
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