The Penticton Vees (12-2-0-0) look to make it back-to-back wins tonight, when they head up Highway 97 to face the West Kelowna Warriors (5-7-0-1) at Royal LePage Place; face-off is 7 PM. The Vees got back into the win column Friday, doubling up the Merritt Centennials 4-2 at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. West Kelowna has been off since Wednesday, when they dropped a 3-2 decision in Coquitlam.
Chris Klack scored twice and Ben Brar and Kenny Johnson also found the back of the net, all part of a four-goal first period for the Vees Friday. Rookie netminder Nolan Hildebrand stopped 26 of 28 shots to improve to 3-0 in his young BCHL career. After being shutout in their last outing, the Vees scored four goals inside the first 19-minutes of the game.
West Kelowna has hit a rough patch in their schedule as they’re winless in their last five games, four of those losses coming in regulation. The Warriors last win came back on October 4th against Chilliwack, a 1-0 overtime win. Scoring has been an issue for the Tribe, as they’re tied for the second-lowest offensive output in the BCHL. Their 39 goals through 13 games is only ahead of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (33) for goals for. But has scoring been the sole cause of their struggles of late?
West Kelowna has scored 15 goals in their last five games, an average of three goals per-game, which isn’t necessarily a low output. Stopping the puck may be the bigger concern of late, as their tandem of Xavier Burgart and Shane Farkas have had a .905 save percentage or lower in the Warriors last five games. In fact, in four of their last five games, their goaltender of record has had a save percentage of .868 or lower. When you’re not scoring a whole lot, you need those timely saves and that may not be happening for the Warriors.
Speaking of goaltending, Mat Robson will start tonight for the Vees after having the night off on Friday. Robson has been terrific this season, sporting a 9-2 record, with a 1.71 goals-against average and sports a .931 save percentage. Robson did pick up the win against West-K back on September 30th.
Outside the change in goal, it’s not clear if the Vees will make any line-up changes from Friday’s win in Merritt. Jonny Tychonick did sit out on the blue-line, as Jacob Kamps did return to the line-up upfront. The Vees have dressed 1 forwards and gone with seven defenceman in recent weeks. Their line-up will likely be a game-time decision.
West Kelowna wants to find a way to get their offence going but it won’t get any easier tonight against the Vees. Penticton is the BCHL’s best defensive team, giving up the fewest goals of any team, with just 29 surrendered in 14 games. However, the Tribe do have some offensive weapons that the Vees can’t take lightly.
20-year-old Quinn Foreman leads the Warriors in scoring with eight goals and 18 points in 13 games, which is good enough for 13th overall in the BCHL scoring race. Two other veterans are off to good starts as well, as Reed Gunville has seven goals and 11 points in 13 games and Connor Sodergren has five goals and 11 points.
This is meeting number two of seven between these two rivals and the second straight in West-K. After tonight they don’t meet again until November 22nd, again at Royal LePage Place. The first visit to the SOEC by the Warriors isn’t until January 11th.
West Kelowna has dropped three straight home games and four of their last five. Penticton has won five straight road games since losing in Alberni Valley on September 17th.
Fans can listen to tonight’s game on EZ Rock AM 800 locally, online at www.iheartradio.ca/ez-rock/ez-rock-penticton, or they can watch online at www.myhockeytv.com
