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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   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: Friday, February 29, 2008 Everett Silvertips enter stretch run By Nick Patterson Herald Writer EVERETT -- The calm is over. Bring on the storm. The Everett Silvertips' mini vacation comes to an end tonight, and the Tips probably won't get another chance to catch their breath until their playoff run comes to an end. "It seems like a long time since we last lost in regulation," Everett coach John Becanic said (the answer is Feb. 6). "The guys are pretty loose and jovial right now, which isn't a bad thing. They earned that." Everett's been on what can best be described as the WHL's equivalent of a cruise through the Caribbean. Over the previous 18 days the Tips have played just four times -- including just once on the road -- a leisurely pace almost unheard of once the season is in full swing. However, Everett's season finishes with a flourish. Over the next 17 days the Tips play nine times, five of those on the road. And there won't be much of a chance to collect themselves when the season ends as that stretch runs straight into the playoffs. So the rest and relaxation period is over. And the Tips aren't complaining. "It's been good, but it'll be nice to get back to playing hockey every day and having some games," Everett captain Jonathan Harty said. "This is something we've been looking forward to." Not only have the Tips had a slow schedule, they go into tonight's home game against Seattle having not played in a full week. The only other time that's happened this season was when the players went home for the Christmas break. So the team should be well-rested when it takes the ice tonight. "Jay (Varady, Everett's associate head coach) and I were just talking about how we could never coach college hockey," Becanic said. "That lifestyle, where you practice Monday through Thursday and play on Friday and Saturday, that's not for me. Having the rare week off is good, but I don't know if I'd want to do it every week. The guys can only practice like that every day for so long and not get irritable." So the Tips will be champing at the bit when the puck is dropped tonight. In one respect the Tips were fortunate about the timing of the slow period as it came just when it was most needed. Everett was without three of its top five defensemen for much of February. That placed a heavy burden on the rest, particularly Harty and Dane Crowley, who logged heavy minutes as Everett's two available veteran d-men. The lighter schedule made that task easier for Harty and Crowley, and with Graham Potuer scheduled to return from his two-game suspension tonight, that load should be eased. "Me and Crowley have had lots of ice, so we needed a little break," Harty said. "But now we've got Potuer back and we should be fine. I guess that slow period came at the right time." Fellow defensemen Taylor Ellington (foot) and Mike Alexander (shoulder) remain sidelined with injuries and will not play this weekend. Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog

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