Will Simpson be in goal?

EVERETT — Will he or won’t he?

The biggest question surrounding the Everett Silvertips as they head into their first-round playoff series against the Portland Winterhawks is the status of star goaltender Kent Simpson.

Simpson is trying furiously to recover from a sprained ankle. But will he be ready in time to play in Saturday’s Game 1 in Portland?

With one day remaining before the start of the series, that question continues to hang in the air unanswered.

“I don’t want to speculate right now,” Everett coach Craig Hartsburg said Thursday. “Every day we’re monitoring his progress and how he’s feeling. I don’t want to say yes or no at this point.”

Simpson suffered the injury on March 4 at Tri-City when he jammed his foot against the post, causing his ankle to turn over. He briefly tried to continue playing before slowly skating off the ice, and he hasn’t suited up since.

At the time of the injury Simpson was in the zone. He had started 19 straight games and was playing his best hockey as a Silvertip. His performances were the primary reason why Everett earned 20 of a possible 26 points during a 13-game stretch in January and February, helping the Tips pull out of the Western Conference cellar and into position to make the playoffs. For those performances Simpson was named the team’s co-Most Valuable Player alongside defenseman Ryan Murray.

Simpson was back on his skates last week, and he’s donned his gear and participated in practices this week, indicating progress. However, as of Wednesday he hadn’t taken full part in drills — the team did not take the ice Thursday — and call-up goaltender Andy Desautels remains with the team in case Simpson is unable to go and the Tips have to call upon back-up Luke Siemens.

“He’s not 100 percent, but every day he’s making progress,” Hartsburg said of Simpson. “We’ll be judging every day to see where he’s at, and it’s a good sign that he’s on the ice taking shots.

“It’s hard for any player at this time of the year when they’re hurt,” Hartsburg added. “He played so well down the stretch. Until he’s ready to go he’ll be doing his therapy and working his butt off. Hopefully he’ll be back before long.”

Eighth-seeded Everett is a heavy underdog against top-seeded Portland in the best-of-seven series. Quality goaltending is a necessity if the Tips are to have any chance of upsetting the Winterhawks.

Fortunately for the Tips, Siemens had performed admirably in Simpson’s absence. Siemens started each of Everett’s final eight games and finished the season with an impressive .917 save percentage, earning the trust of the coaching staff.

“He’s played well,” Hartsburg said of Siemens. “He’s done everything we could ask for. He competes, he works hard, and he did a good job of staying focused when he wasn’t playing. He’s done a good job for us.”

While Simpson’s status remains undetermined, the status of Everett’s injured forwards is clearer.

Captain Landon Ferraro should be ready to go Saturday. Ferraro missed the last five games of the regular season because of a groin injury. Ferraro had just returned from missing six weeks because of hernia surgery, playing in four games before being forced to the sidelines again. But Ferraro has been back at practices this week and is expected to be in the lineup Saturday. His return should give Everett’s struggling offense a boost.

Overager Clayton Cumiskey, however, will not play in this weekend’s Games 1 and 2. Cumiskey suffered a concussion, his second of the season, during last Friday’s game at Portland. He has yet to resume skating and is unavailable until at least Wednesday’s Game 3 in Everett.

Portland has injury issues of its own. Most notably are the long-term injuries to defenseman Brett Ponich and winger Oliver Gabriel. Ponich, Portland’s captain, has been out since Jan. 18 because of a knee injury. Gabriel, who terrorized the Tips during the first half with nine points in five games, has been out since Jan. 15 because of a shoulder injury. Both injuries were considered season ending at the time.

There have been rumblings that Ponich may recover in time to rejoin the team during the playoffs. Portland coach Mike Johnston confirmed Ponich could return during the playoffs, but said Ponich would not play in the first round.

Portland’s minor injuries, however, have cleared up in time for the postseason. Most notably, No. 1 goaltender Mac Carruth has recovered from the combination of a concussion and a leg injury that’s dogged him the past month.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.