Silvertips and Thunderbirds Matchup Twice This Weekend; Weekend Preview
THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE CONFERENCE HEATS UP WITH THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays - but we’re back with in two intense divisional games! Get ready for hard nosed hockey - in the PNW Winter.
The games between Everett and Seattle are always highlighted on my schedule - and provide Grade A entertainment. A heated rivalry always pits vastly different styles (speed vs size) against each other, and you can throw out team records because it’s anyone’s game when the Green and Gray matchup with the Silver and Blue.
The two teams last matched up in Round One of the WHL playoffs last year in a 1 vs 8 series that went to six games before Everett won a 1-0 Double OT thriller in Kent to move on with a 4-2 series win.
These two games will be interesting to say the least. Their first and second matchup of the season coming this late in the season pits one team flying high, and one desperate to start some winning ways. The returners played against each other a lot last season, and the fans of these teams do not like each other. Adding into the uniqueness of these two games is that both teams are missing their best players: with Everett having Miettinen (Finland), Vanhanen (Finland), and Bear (Canada) at WJ; while Seattle has Mrtka (Czechia), and Cootes (Canada) gone as well. So this game will test the depths of both teams, and pit inexperienced players in two of the most hostile rinks in the dub.
Due to the festive nature of the season - this Preview article is coming to everyone FOR FREE! I hope everyone continues to have a happy and safe holiday season, and cheers to some good HOCKEY!
Saturday Game 1
Everett Silvertips (27-3-2-1) at Seattle Thunderbirds (13-14-2-1)
Time: 6:00 PM | Arena: Acesso Showare Center
TV: Victory + | Radio: 1380 KRKO AM and 95.3 FM in Everett
Uniform: Dark Green Jerseys (Second half jersey colors swap)
The first game of this will be very chippy after the whistle. These teams return a lot of those players that played 8 regular season games and 6 postseason games last year.
Projected Goalies:
Raiden LeGall (15-1-2-1, .900 SV%, 2.66 GAA) vs Marek Sklenicka (9-6-2, .897 SV%, 3.56 GAA)
While Anders Miller clearly has the hot hand right now - a combination of LeGall’s contributions over the last year to the team AND his solid start against Prince George before the Holiday break - he’s earned the first start of this weekend. Especially since his last start in the Sho was a Double OT shutout to clinch the series. LeGall was in a bit of a funk before during the months of November and December with four games of 4 or more goals and two games where he was pulled in the first period. But as mentioned - a solid performance against the BC Division leaders and a holiday break to reset, he’s hopefully able to regain his top form. When he’s at that top level he’s capable of he’s lightning quick and one of the top goalies in the division. When he’s more unfocused - he really struggles against odd-man rushes and hard shots that are squared up on him.
Marek Sklenicka is a Czech netminder that Seattle drafted in the Import draft this past summer. After losing the Western Conference’s best goalie last season in Scott Ratzlaff who aged out after his 19 year old season - Seattle has split time fairly evenly but Sklenicka has separated himself as their best goalie. Now that comes with the caveat - he’s still not great this year. But the 17 year old has proven to be the best they have - and has improved over the course of the season. He’ll be tested in this one by over 40 shots and a team that’s missing its best forwards BUT still will control the puck for an extended period of time.
Thunderbirds Player to Watch For:
Fans who watched any TBirds Tips game last season (especially in the playoffs) will remember Ashton Cumby (#3 - D). Now 20 - the Chicago Blackhawks prospect is a huge, physical stay at home defender; aka the quintessential Thunderbirds player. He is going to lay the body, have solid outlet passes, and punch someone - and do so with confidence. He spent time in the AHL earlier this season and on a middling TBirds team is still a +10 - indicative of his staunch defensive abilities.
Silvertips Player to Watch For:
The Silvertips most improved player this year has been 20 year old Zach Shantz (C - 19) who has already reached his point total from last year before the Holiday Break. A player who was acquired to play the penalty kill, win faceoffs, and be a consistent 200 foot player has turned into one of Everett’s top scorers and really helped to lengthen the depth of centerman on the team. He has been pivotal in comebacks this season and will continue to be relied on in his heightened role.
Tips Keys to victory:
Match the Physicality
While the Silvertips have built a much bigger lineup under Fraser and Hamilton than in previous regimes - Busch, Miettinen, and Dillard will be out for this one. So aside from Vaughan (who does bring the boom) - it will be up to the bigger players remaining (Liske, Smith, and R. Jamieson) to really match the physicality. If they don’t - Everett will not be able to run their fast style without fear of getting crunched.
Veteran Presence is Needed
Zach Shantz provided the spark plug to start the comeback against PG, and he’s been the best and most consistent overager on both offense and defensively. But aside from him, with the WJ players + Busch and maybe Schaefer all out - the Tips will NEED contributions from Gould and Heslop to do anything in this game
Sunday Game 2
Everett Silvertips (27-3-2-1) at Seattle Thunderbirds (13-14-2-1)
Time: 4:00 PM | Arena: Angel of the Winds Arena
TV: Victory + | Radio: 1380 KRKO AM and 95.3 FM in Everett
Uniform: White Jerseys (Second half jersey colors swap)
The second of a back-to-back features the teams moving from Kent to downtown Everett on the corner of Hewitt and Oakes for the first time since Game 5 of the playoffs (or the Preseason Classic if you’re being technical). This game will probably be less chippy and more actually fight-y.
Projected Goalies:
Anders Miller (13-3-0, .911 SV%, 2.33 GAA) vs Grayson Malinoski (4-8-0-1, .890 SV%, 3.71 GAA)
Grayson Malinoski was the backup last year for Ratzlaff’s last WHL season but didn’t play that much as the Thunderbirds relied HEAVILY on him last year. In his 18 year old season in which he was tapped to be the successor, he’s struggled mightily. He lost the starting job to Sklenicka and has a ballooned Goals Against. However he’s had a good last two starts and is hoping to continue an upwards trend. It will be difficult in a hostile environment and against the best in the US Division. He does get a bonus point for really cool pads.
Anders Miller has taken the reigns as Everett’s best goalie as of late. He’s got a .927 save percentage in a Tips uniform and has numerous fantastic starts and two rescue relief appearances that he turned into wins. He’s been a road warrior AND a wall at home. He excels at odd-man rushes and is lightning quick cross-crease.
Thunderbirds Player to Watch For:
One of the Thunderbirds leading scorers is 16 year old Brock England (#16 - C). If you remember the kid in a cage for Seattle during that playoff series bouncing around like a pinball - he’s now averaging a point per game this season. He’s going to be the key to them finding a way to defeat Miller. In online scouting reports his ability to think on his feet and adapt on the fly is what his best traits are. He also possess great goal scoring IQ - as demonstrated by his 12 goals at the halfway point of his 16 year old season.
Silvertips Player to Watch For:
I try to not put this often - because Landon DuPont (#9 - D) is really THE player to look for in every game. But specifically in this one - the second of a back-to-back without our best forwards. DuPont’s heroics against PG will be remembered for a LONG time and with a tired group out there on Sunday might be asked to do the same. Seattle is obviously a lot more void of talent than PG, but in a bitter rivalry - records don’t matter. They’re going to play a tough game and we might need to see some hero-puck from the exceptional status defenseman.
Tips Keys to victory:
Use the home crowd
Everett has the best home ice advantage in the Western Conference as seen by two consecutive votes from WHL players. This Sunday game during the holidays against Seattle will be a full house ready to see some action. The Tips need to play to the crowd; whether its big hits, fights, an early timeout, etc. This Seattle team is young and inexperienced - perfectly fit to be lured into the Jungle of AOTW and then rattled on the ice.
Get scoring from the blueline
Between DuPont, Smith, and Liske, the Tips have plenty of firepower from the defensive corps. They’re going to need it in this one with a tired and depleted forward group. This group needs to find a way to get involved. Whether that’s mixing up pairings so Smith and DuPont each have a defensive anchor and can jump into EVERY rush or double shifting that top pairing - it’s going to be needed for a victory lap after the game.
ICYMI: Finnish winger Matias Vanhanen recorded an assist in Finlands win over Denmark yesterday. Miettinen and Bear were scratches for their team.