Heraldnet.com
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2009 12:44 pm
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
John Boyle
Today's inactives
Blog
Nick Patterson
Seattle 3, Everett 2
Meet the
2009 Silvertips
Latest gallery

Huskies vs. Cal W 42-10
December 5. 2009 (11 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday
Fears over commercial air service at Paine Fiel...
Gift charity draws Snohomish County families in...
Donated safe gives Marysville museum a mystery
Friday


From behind bars, pal tells Colton Harris-Moore...
Commercial airlines would cause few problems at...
Fund set up to benefit children of couple kille...
Thursday


5 die of swine flu in Snohomish County
Red Cross honors acts of heroism, many by ordin...
Barista clothing rules delayed by County Council
Wednesday


Father gets 13 years in 6-year-old's fatal shoo...
‘One bad choice' blamed in death of 4 fri...
Reps. Larsen, Inslee split on Obama's plans for...
Tuesday


Lynnwood swimmer turns therapy into competitive...
Highway 9 crash is worst alcohol-related accide...
Crash victim warned his students against DUI
Monday


Victims of Highway 9 crash ID'd; suspect booked...
Suspect in officer killings eludes law in Seattle
New laws for Snohomish County bikini baristas?
Sunday


Extended lack of work takes its toll on Snohomi...
Four die in car crash near Marysville
Gathering in Tacoma mourns slain Lakewood officers
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Sports   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
Everett Silvertips (External Link)
Schedule (External Link)
 
CONTACT THE HERALD
Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.)
E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com
Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
kbrown@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Silvertips notebook

Playoffs on Tips' minds

EVERETT -- The Everett Silvertips can sense it coming.

There it is, lurking just around the corner.

The playoffs.

With just nine games remaining in the regular season and a playoff berth long since locked up, the Silvertips now find their thoughts drifting toward what awaits them once the postseason arrives.

"I think our team's been thinking about the playoffs for quite some time," Everett coach John Becanic said. "Our focal point is continuing to play at a high level heading into the playoffs."

It's likely many teams are thinking along the same lines. The league finds itself in an unusual position this season. With three weeks worth of games still remaining, all 16 playoff teams already have been determined. Therefore, there's no one left fighting for their playoff lives, just teams jockeying for position.

In the Western Conference, that jockeying has broken down into three groups. Everett is fighting for fourth along with Seattle and Kelowna. Seattle currently leads the race with Kelowna trailing by one point and Everett by four.

Vancouver, Tri-City and Spokane find themselves within two points of one another for the top spot. Chilliwack and Kamloops are still battling for seventh.

As a result, no one has a clue who their first-round opponent will be -- and there's a lot of scoreboard watching going on.

"I think a lot of the guys do standings watch, while some guys couldn't care less, they just go out there and do what they do," Everett center Zach Hamill said. "You kind of want to just focus on what you can control, but at the same time it's human nature to see what other teams are doing."

Everett faces a difficult schedule down the stretch. It includes two games against Tri-City, one against Vancouver, and three against a Seattle team the Tips have beaten just once in seven meetings.

"I'm glad we've got a harder schedule here down the stretch," Becanic said. "I think that if you play soft teams going into the playoffs it sets you up for a false sense of security. I think our schedule will be a real test for us as to how well we're playing heading into the playoffs."

There certainly can't be much complaint at how the Tips are playing at this point. With the exception of two poor games to start the second half, Everett is 17-7-0-1 since the Christmas break, indicating the building of momentum as the playoffs approach.

"I like how we're playing, I like how (goaltender Leland Irving) is playing, and I think our best players have been our best players," Becanic said. "You want them to be your best players all year, but certainly at this time of year you want them to be picking it up, and they all seem to be picking it up."

Sweating it out: Tuesday's NHL trade deadline might not have much relevance to the WHL, but for Everett's players whose rights are owned by NHL teams -- Hamill (Boston), Irving (Calgary), Taylor Ellington (Vancouver), Dane Crowley (Tampa Bay) and Dan Gendur (Vancouver) -- there was some personal intrigue.

"I didn't really think about it until my brother texted me this morning," Hamill said. "He said he was watching TSN (the Canadian equivalent of ESPN) and they were saying the Boston Bruins were looking to get Marian Hossa (from Atlanta) and I guess they said they'd have to give up me.

"I guess I've gone through two trade deadlines this year."

None of Everett's players were traded.

Injury update: It looks as though the Tips will still be down two defensemen for this weekend's games.

Defenseman Graham Potuer returns from his two-game suspension to help ease the situation, but Ellington and Mike Alexander remain on the shelf.

Alexander, recovering from a shoulder injury, is back practicing with the team. However, Becanic said it was unlikely Alexander would be ready by the weekend. He's expected back next week.

Ellington is still wearing a walking boot because of the fractured bone in his foot. He's still at least two weeks away.

Fresh faces: Defenseman Paul Sohor and goaltender Andres Walsh skated with the team in practice Tuesday.

The 1991-born Sohor played in Friday's 2-1 victory in Spokane as an emergency call-up. He returned to Everett with the team, but is not expected to stay for this weekend's games.

The 1990-born Walsh is a recent addition to Everett's protected list. He's a teammate of call-up defenseman Brenden Stephen with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Princeton Posse and is not expected to dress for any games.

Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog

1. Tulalip man, 20, charged with baby boy's murder
2. Donated safe gives Marysville museum a mystery
3. Fears over commercial air service at Paine Field dismissed
4. Everett officer charged with manslaughter reveals plan for defense
5. Merchants reject security for downtown Snohomish
6. Holmgren interested in returning to Seahawks
7. Friends open account for orphaned daughters of Highway 9 crash victims
8. Crack That Safe
9. Country singing contestant Chance McKinney amazed by his fans
10. Have M’s, Figgins reached a deal?
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis
‘Nutcracker' times three
Road warrior
Mavericks reloading
Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings
Cities prepare for winter blast repeat
Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney
This Weekend in Your Town
Tips for the stormy season
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


Holiday Specials
up to 25% off!

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

$5 Off
Stylecut

Lube, Oil & Filter
Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas

Holiday Getaway
$99 dbl Occupancy

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
30yd Carpet Purchase

$95 Dryer Vent Cleaning!
$99 Whole House Duct Cleaning Special!

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!

15% Off
All Repairs!

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off

$2.99 Chili Dog
$3.99 Fish Burger

Special Rebate Offers!
Plus Get Additional 30% OFF!

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
Lube Oil Filter

Always Free
Transmission Diagnostic

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

$2 OFF
at Box Office

We've Got You Covered for hte Holidays!
20% OFF Re-Upholstery or Custom Furniture!

Nutcracker
Family Packs Available
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT