Here’s some quick thoughts before I start the drive back from Spokane:
– This has truly been a season of slaying dragons for the Tips. End eight-year banner drought? Check. Win first playoff series in eight years? Check. It’s been a cathartic season for Everett, and that’s somewhat surprising considering the Tips were generally expected to finish around third in the U.S. Division this season.
– In case there was any question, the Spokane curse is truly done and dusted now. Everett went four calendar years between wins at Spokane Arena, dropping 18 straight. That string ended with the Tips won their final game at Spokane last season, then won three of four this season. But winning all three games in the first-round playoff series at Spokane Arena — including two in multiple overtimes — takes away any lingering doubt.
– I mentioned it last night, but the performance of Everett’s defense in Game 6 needs to be praised one more time. The Tips dressed seven defensemen for Game 6. However, Noah Juulsen left the game injured during the first period, then Tristen Pfeifer went out in the third. Jordan Wharrie, who was being used as a forward, was available as a spare, but he didn’t take a single shift on defense. Therefore, it was a long 103 minutes for the quartet of Ben Betker, Cole MacDonald, Lucas Skrumeda and Kevin Davis. The fact those four were still playing strong at the end of the game, despite all of them logging around 50 minutes, is astounding.
– Can you imagine what it would have been like if these teams had to turn around after that triple-overtime game and play a Game 7 the next night in Everett?
– Is Carter Hart really a 16-year-old rookie? The Tips goaltender’s stats in the first round: 4-2 with a 1.68 goals against average and .947 save percentage. The goals against average and save percentage topped the WHL in the first round.
– There was some chatter after the game about the post-series handshakes. I tweeted the above photo of the handshake line, then received this in response:
@NickHPatterson @WHLsilvertips @chiefshockey minus tips coaches classless cowards
— Jon Mickelson (@avamania2003) April 8, 2015
I snapped the photo, then hustled downstairs for interviews, so I didn’t see whether the Tips coaches took part or not. But if it’s true that Everett’s coaches didn’t participate, that’s disappointing.
– Everett advanced to face Portland in the second round. Although the Tips are the higher seed, I have to think the Winterhawks are the favorites. The teams were separated by just three points during the regular season, and Portland has oodles more playoff experience from advancing to the league finals each of the previous four seasons. In addition, if Everett’s defense isn’t able to recover from its injuries, the Tips are in trouble. Portland, with its elite offensive players, is the absolute worst team to face while short on D.
– Games 1 and 2 between Everett and Portland are set for Friday and Saturday at Xfinity Arena. The rest of the series schedule is available at the Silvertips website, and it includes a huge gap between games 2 and 3.
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