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Preview: Vees face sinking Rivermen at The Lodge

Langley, BC: The Penticton Vees (37-11-2-3) started their road trip off on the right foot with a 5-1 win over the Coquitlam Express Friday night, and now take on another struggling Mainland team, the Langley Rivermen (22-19-10-2).

Friday, Nicky Leivermann opened the scoring on the power play as his slap shot hit a Coquitlam defender and deflected past Brock Hamm. Lukas Sillinger would add another goal in the first period, ending a 23-game goalless drought by jumping on a loose puck after an Express defender lost an edge.

Cassidy Bowes opened the scoring in the second after Leivermann’s shot from the left point deflected over the net, but came off the end glass onto the stick of Bowes who was able to beat a diving Hamm to make it 3-0.

The Vees struck again on the power play in the middle frame with Owen Sillinger taking a one timer from the right circle. Hamm got across to make the save but the puck squeaked through his legs for Taylor Ward to slide into the open net.

Sillinger would add a goal of his own while shorthanded, taking a nice pass from Chris Klack off the rush and firing a shot off the post and in from the right circle for his 30th of the year.

Adam Scheel would have his shutout bid broken in the final minutes as Jack McNab was able to jam a centring feed through the five hole with just 1:12 remaining. Final shots ended 35-17 Vees.

After battling for first place for the first half of the season, the Rivermen have struggled since the New Year with a record of 4-12 in 2018.They have been held to two goals or less in six of their past eight games.

Interestingly enough, Langley was the first team to beat Penticton this season with the 2-1 win at the South Okanagan Events Centre October 18. That night the Vees outshot Langley 37-19, but Braeden Fleming turned in a stellar performance to steal the victory.

The Vees will look eclipse the 80 point mark in tonight’s game and also stretch their lead at the top of the division. The Vees are four points clear of Vernon and Wenatchee, with a game in hand, following last night’s results.

Team Statistics

Leading Scorers

Penticton Vees

Owen Sillinger – 30 G 29 A 51 GP

Jonny Tychonick – 9 G 35 A 45 GP

Taylor Ward – 18 G 22 A 41 GP

Langley Rivermen 

Brendan Budy – 17 A 32 A 44 GP

Angus Crookshank – 19 G 22 A 37 GP

John Wojciechowski – 12 G 18 A 50 GP

Special Team

Penticton Vees

Power play – 21.9% (3rd in BCHL)

Penalty kill – 86.7% (1st in BCHL)

Langley Rivermen

Power play – 15.0% (15th in BCHL)

Penalty kill – 81.7% (9th in BCHL)

Season series

October 18, 2017 – Vees 1 vs Rivermen 2 Boxscore

February 17, 2018 – Vees @ Rivermen