Broncos Down 'Tips, Now 2-2 On Road Trip

First the meat and potatoes......

Another pretty solid effort on the road for the Broncos, however this time they would be rewarded in a 3-1 win over the Everett Silvertips.

The Broncos played a complete game and limited Everett's opportunities to post their 2nd win on the trip with Portland and Seattle to come on the weekend.

Jan Dalecky scored on the powerplay in the final minute of the first period to open the scoring. Vitali Karamnov tied it when his initial chance was stopped by Ian Curtis and the rebound went off Levi Nelson and over the line to tie it 1-1 after two.

The Broncos and the Silvertips both had chances to take the lead in the third until Erik Felde took a nice centering pass from Zack Smith at the end of a good shift to give the Broncos the lead midway through. A Zack Smith empty-netter in the final seconds would seal it. Broncos win 3-1 and have never lost at the Everett Events Center.

Now to the rest....

- Kyle Beach was ineffective all night long and never really got his game going. Either he wasn't on his game or the Broncos didn't buy into it. He did find R.J. Larochelle in the dying seconds after the Broncos empty net goal. He's probably wishing he didn't though. R.J. landed a big one early that nearly dropped Beach. He then wrestled Beach down and landed a couple more are on the ice before the linesman could step in. I interviewed Kyle for our pre-game show. Despite all the stuff you hear, he's a well-spoken, polite 17 year-old who is a man already. He will be a Top 10 NHL pick, bank on it.

- What was up with the Everett on-ice goal celebration? After Vitali Karamnov's goal that banked in of Levi Nelson, Karamnov and his line skated to neutral ice and proceeded to do a Ukrainian looking dance with his linemates arm-in-arm. That stuff doesn't fly and has no place in hockey. At least act like you've scored before. I saw some of the veteran 'Tips players like Dane Crowley wanting no part of that celebration. I thought it was a bit over the top.

- Eric Doyle played well in his return to Everett. He was solid in both ends and chipped in an assist on the Broncos powerplay goal. Speaking of special teams, the Broncos PK is a perfect 19/19 on this road trip.

- What a circus with the Ice maintenance crew. Two guys (who looked like they just jumped out of the stands) tried to fix a broken stanchion in the glass on three separate occasions. Finally they just duct taped it together after it broke for the third time just seconds into the third period. I laughed on-air when the one fella bolted onto the ice from the zamboni gate and caught the fresh ice and fell on his back-side pretty hard. These guys were getting the boos and thumbs down from the home crowd. What a comedy of errors!

- Nice to meet Voice of the Silvertips Jon Rosen prior to face-off. The 1st year WHL broadcaster was accommodating (as was the entire Tips game staff) all night long. He even told me he checks up on the blog now and then. Thanks Jon, we'll see you next year back at the I-plex. Nice guy.

- Everett Head Coach Jon Becanic was a good person to talk to pre-game. The well spoken bench boss provided some good insight around the Silvertips and why they may not be the most liked team in the U.S. division. He says they are kind of like the New York Yankees of the WHL....

Game night pics.....

Broadcast booth view

Seven minutes away 'till face-off

The "Bud Blaster" during intermission shares the ice with the zamboni

Cue the circus music..... maintenance staff tries to fix the same problem for the third time.

Post-game meal at Old Spaghetti Factory. Levi Nelson on the left with Mike Brown on the right

Matt Tassone kills some time between dishes with a little coloring. Nice Tazzer, that's some good

work.

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The Broncos play in Portland Friday night in their next action. They will practice tomorrow before heading into Seattle for a day off. The plan is to take the team downtown, to Pike's Market and around the waterfront.

Good night,

Jon