Playoffs?!? You’re Talking about Playoffs?!?!
By: Fraser Rodgers
To steal the great line by former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Mora, we are indeed talking about playoffs tonight. The Penticton Vees (32-12-0-3) welcome back the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (21-22-2-4) to the SOEC. The two teams haven’t met since December 12th, when the Silverbacks edged the Vees 2-1. In fact, the Silverbacks have won the last two over the Vees, as they also picked up a 3-2 double-overtime win at home back on December 1st; the Vees won the four previous meetings.
Tonight is a possible first round Interior Playoff preview, as the Vees hold down top spot in the division and the Silverbacks are hanging onto the fourth and final playoff position. Yes, things can certainly change but don’t be surprised come mid-March if these two teams are meeting in the postseason. These two recently met in the playoffs, in 2011 to be exact, as the Silverbacks ousted the Vees in five games in the Interior Conference Semi-Finals.
Coming back to the here and now, the Vees have been on a role in 2013, winning nine of their 12 games in the New Year; most recently winning seven games in a row. The Vees have won eight of their last nine and haven’t lost back-to-back games since November 9th & 10th.
It was a bit of an up and down two days last week for the Vees, as they were shutout for the first time in two years last Friday (1-0 to Merritt), but won 8-4 Saturday against Alberni Valley. Despite the goose-egg Friday, the Vees have scored an impressive 19 goals in their last three games and have scored five or more goals in five of their last eight.
Wade Murphy continues to have a hot-hand, as the Vees forward has points in five of his last seven outings; 12 points over his last three. After a five game dry spell, Murphy has four goals and 17 points in seven. Speaking of hot, Chad Katunar is just that in his last five starts. Katunar is 4-1-0 with a 1.41 goals-against average and a .946 save-percentage.
The Silverbacks have hit a bit of a speed bump, as they’ve dropped their last four games, including a 4-2 setback on home-ice to Merritt on Wednesday. However as mentioned, the Silverbacks have gotten the better of the Vees in the last two meetings. Alex Gillies is on a bit of tear, the Vernon product has five points in his last three games. Evan Anderson leads his team in scoring against the Vees with three goals and four points; Anderson likely unavailable for tonight’s tilt due to injury.
