Silvertips' new profile for playoffs: underdog

There are only nine games left in the regular season before the Everett Silvertips open the Western Hockey League playoffs and face an opportunity for redemption.

Last season the Silvertips had the best record in the regular season, only to be upset in the second round by the Prince George Cougars in what was a nightmare ending to a dream season.

Leland Irving, who has been playing his best hockey of the season over the last few weeks, has renewed confidence and is eager for the playoffs to begin again.

"Last year we just put so much pressure on ourselves," the veteran goaltender said. "This year is much different. In a way, we're the underdog. We aren't facing the pressure of being the top team all season. We had the team to go all the way, but the cards didn't fall into place. Now it's a new season."

Irving, 19, is eligible to return to Everett next season, but chances are that the first-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames will be playing either in the National Hockey League or in the minors.

"If all goes well, that would be the case," Irving said of his chance to play professional hockey next season. "It's hard to say what Calgary will do, but if I'm not back here I would really like to go out on a strong note, playing my best hockey."

Irving said the difference in his play has been mostly mental.

"The main thing is confidence and feeling comfortable about your game," Irving said. "I worked with Cliffy [goaltender coach Shane Clifford], and I've simplified some things and gotten rid of some old habits.

Everett coach John Becanic knows it will take a strong performance from Irving for the Silvertips to go farther than last season.

"Irv has been really solid over the last month, and we have the potential to be a contender," Becanic said. "We're going to have a legitimate shot and are a real threat against anyone that we play."

Irving isn't the only player who will have to shine for Everett to have a chance to make a playoff run.

"I've said it all season, our best players have to be our best players," Becanic said. "Irving, [Dan] Gendur and [Zach] Hamill have all been really good since Christmas. Gendur and Hamill have been dominant every time they've been on the ice, and this is the right time of year for that to be happening."

In the 27 games since the break, Gendur has 17 goals and 27 assists while Hamill has 14 goals and 23 assists. Shane Harper also has picked up his scoring, and the checking line of Zack Dailey, Lukas Vartovnik and Matt Ius has been playing defense by spending most of their time in the offensive end.

Heading into the stretch before the playoffs, Becanic's main concerns are discipline and finish.

"We still have some guys who are penalty prone because they use their sticks too much," Becanic said. "In the playoffs, you can't give teams those opportunities. Five on five, we get a lot of scoring chances, and the question is our ability to finish. That's something we'll be working a lot on over the next few weeks."

Everett is also starting to get healthy. Defenseman Graham Potuer will be back this week, and defenseman Mike Alexander will be back soon. That leaves only Taylor Ellington, out of the lineup since Jan. 24 with a broken foot. He's expected to be out three more weeks.

"Our young guys have done a good job, but getting that experience and maturity back on our blue line is going to help," Becanic said. "We're winning games and playing more consistent all over the ice."