Tipped Off
04-11-2006, 09:08 AM
Everett Herald:
Tips return to the EEC
Everett hopes a subtle shift that comes with home ice makes a big difference
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - Home sweet home.
Or is it?
The Everett Silvertips' second-round playoff series against the Kelowna Rockets shifts to the Everett Events Center beginning tonight. But does that mean advantage Silvertips?
"You're always happy to be at home, but Kelowna's just such a great team and a great organization that we know they'll be going hard," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "We're going to have to go hard, too. It's been a fun series so far, it's been competitive, and we'll see what happens here at home."
The series is tied 1-1 after the first two games in Kelowna, and with the next two games at home, Everett has the opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series.
"Back in the friendly confines of the EEC," Everett captain Torrie Wheat said. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed for a change. But as far as hockey goes, it's not going to be any easier at home than it was on the road."
Everett didn't hold any advantage over Kelowna when the teams played at the EEC during the regular season as the teams split their two meetings.
However, one subtle advantage could play a big role in Games 3 and 4 for Everett: having the last line change.
After stoppages, the home team gets to choose its players to start on the ice after seeing who the visiting team puts out on the ice. That allows the home team to pick what it feels are favorable personnel matchups.
Now, having the last line change isn't that big a deal for Everett. The Tips sometimes will match their defensive pairings against opposing lines, but Constantine prefers to send his four forward lines out on a fairly regular rotation.
However, not having the last line change is a big deal for Kelowna. The Rockets religiously matched lines in Games 1 and 2 - every time Everett's line of Wheat, Peter Mueller and Ondrej Fiala hopped off the bench, they were quickly followed by a Kelowna line containing top forwards Tyler Spurgeon and Justin Keller. In the next two games the Rockets will be unable to dictate those matchups.
Not that it worked perfectly for Kelowna in the first two games. Despite the matching, the Mueller-Wheat-Fiala line got the better of the Spurgeon-Keller-fill-in-the-blank line, with Mueller and Fiala being two of the best players in the series thus far.
"They played awesome," Wheat said of his linemates. "Mueller's really stepped up his game and Ondrej (who didn't play in the first round because of the flu) has stepped in where he left off. They're two great players who are a lot of fun to play with."
And the Rockets recognize the problem.
"That line's played very well the first two games," Kelowna assistant coach Ryan Huska said following Game 2. "On the power play and five-on-five they're really dangerous. With Fiala on the wing with his speed and skill it's something that makes that like very special. Then to have a playmaker in the middle like Mueller makes it a difficult line to play against.
"We have to find a way to slow that line down," Huska continued. "It's going to be more difficult playing in Everett to try to get people out there that we'd like to play against that line."
Kelowna may have to rethink which players draw the assignment against Everett's top lines.
But even if the Rockets find the right matchup, at least the next two games in Everett, that strategy will be all the more difficult for the Rockets to implement.
Slap shots: Mueller was named the WHL Player of the Week for April 3-9. Mueller had three goals and two assists in the first two games of the series against Kelowna. It was the second time Mueller earned player of the week honors this season. ... Constantine said forward Kyle Beach is available for tonight's game, but did not commit to whether Beach would in the lineup. Beach, Everett's first-round pick in the 2005 Bantam Draft, joined the team Sunday after his midget season ended. Beach suffered a minor knee injury at the Telus Cup Regionals last weekend, but practiced Monday. Beach had two goals and two assists with Everett in the five games 15-year-olds are allowed before their season ends. ... Tickets for tonight's Game 3 and Wednesday's Game 4 are available by calling 866-332-8499 or online at www.everettsilvertips.com.
Tips return to the EEC
Everett hopes a subtle shift that comes with home ice makes a big difference
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - Home sweet home.
Or is it?
The Everett Silvertips' second-round playoff series against the Kelowna Rockets shifts to the Everett Events Center beginning tonight. But does that mean advantage Silvertips?
"You're always happy to be at home, but Kelowna's just such a great team and a great organization that we know they'll be going hard," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "We're going to have to go hard, too. It's been a fun series so far, it's been competitive, and we'll see what happens here at home."
The series is tied 1-1 after the first two games in Kelowna, and with the next two games at home, Everett has the opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series.
"Back in the friendly confines of the EEC," Everett captain Torrie Wheat said. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed for a change. But as far as hockey goes, it's not going to be any easier at home than it was on the road."
Everett didn't hold any advantage over Kelowna when the teams played at the EEC during the regular season as the teams split their two meetings.
However, one subtle advantage could play a big role in Games 3 and 4 for Everett: having the last line change.
After stoppages, the home team gets to choose its players to start on the ice after seeing who the visiting team puts out on the ice. That allows the home team to pick what it feels are favorable personnel matchups.
Now, having the last line change isn't that big a deal for Everett. The Tips sometimes will match their defensive pairings against opposing lines, but Constantine prefers to send his four forward lines out on a fairly regular rotation.
However, not having the last line change is a big deal for Kelowna. The Rockets religiously matched lines in Games 1 and 2 - every time Everett's line of Wheat, Peter Mueller and Ondrej Fiala hopped off the bench, they were quickly followed by a Kelowna line containing top forwards Tyler Spurgeon and Justin Keller. In the next two games the Rockets will be unable to dictate those matchups.
Not that it worked perfectly for Kelowna in the first two games. Despite the matching, the Mueller-Wheat-Fiala line got the better of the Spurgeon-Keller-fill-in-the-blank line, with Mueller and Fiala being two of the best players in the series thus far.
"They played awesome," Wheat said of his linemates. "Mueller's really stepped up his game and Ondrej (who didn't play in the first round because of the flu) has stepped in where he left off. They're two great players who are a lot of fun to play with."
And the Rockets recognize the problem.
"That line's played very well the first two games," Kelowna assistant coach Ryan Huska said following Game 2. "On the power play and five-on-five they're really dangerous. With Fiala on the wing with his speed and skill it's something that makes that like very special. Then to have a playmaker in the middle like Mueller makes it a difficult line to play against.
"We have to find a way to slow that line down," Huska continued. "It's going to be more difficult playing in Everett to try to get people out there that we'd like to play against that line."
Kelowna may have to rethink which players draw the assignment against Everett's top lines.
But even if the Rockets find the right matchup, at least the next two games in Everett, that strategy will be all the more difficult for the Rockets to implement.
Slap shots: Mueller was named the WHL Player of the Week for April 3-9. Mueller had three goals and two assists in the first two games of the series against Kelowna. It was the second time Mueller earned player of the week honors this season. ... Constantine said forward Kyle Beach is available for tonight's game, but did not commit to whether Beach would in the lineup. Beach, Everett's first-round pick in the 2005 Bantam Draft, joined the team Sunday after his midget season ended. Beach suffered a minor knee injury at the Telus Cup Regionals last weekend, but practiced Monday. Beach had two goals and two assists with Everett in the five games 15-year-olds are allowed before their season ends. ... Tickets for tonight's Game 3 and Wednesday's Game 4 are available by calling 866-332-8499 or online at www.everettsilvertips.com.