Scratches: Mueller, Wheat, Hromas, Sim, Doyle, etc.... (UGH - we're in for a long night)
Still no Mueller: The Silvertips aren't getting star center Peter Mueller back just yet. Mueller, who has 42 points in 36 games, has recovered fully from the concussion that forced him to miss Everett's past three games. However, Mueller has since come down with illness and is not making the trip to Kelowna.
Kress and Sawka Back: On the plus side, centers Mark Kress and Ryan Sawka could be back in the lineup tonight. Kress, who missed the past nine games with a shoulder injury and Sawka, who sat out the past 11 with a knee injury, both practiced at full speed Tuesday. Constantine said he was hopeful both would be available tonight.
Hromas recovering: Left wing Karel Hromas is out at least another two weeks with a cracked collarbone.
Scouting report: It's been a long time since the Tips last faced defending WHL champion Kelowna. The only previous meeting came back on Oct. 2, a game won 3-1 by Kelowna at the EEC.
Kelowna is once again one of the premier teams in the league. The Rockets (30-15-1-2) may be in third place in the B.C. Division, but they have a better winning percentage than the U.S. Division-leading Tips (29-17-2-1) and are coming off Saturday's 6-0 thrashing of Kootenay, which had been virtually unbeatable home.
Kelowna has a roster laden with experienced 19-year-olds. Left wing Justin Keller leads the league in goals with 38, Mike Card is third in the league in scoring among defensemen with 40 points, right wing Blake Comeau (15 goals, 34 assists) was a key member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the World Junior Hockey Championships, and goaltender Derek Yeomans (20-10-0-1, 2.35 goals against average, .915 save percentage) has been solid.
Tonight's game also pits the top two power plays in the league. Everett is ranked first at .209 and Kelowna is right behind at .208.