The Penticton Vees (32-11-1-1) look to halt a three-game winless streak tonight when they visit the Trail Smoke Eaters (22-21-0-4) at Cominco Arena in the Kootenays. The Vees are coming off a 3-1 loss in Vernon to the Vipers Friday night, and haven’t won since posting a 6-0 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on January 14th. The Smoke Eaters were idle Friday but have posted back-to-back wins over Merritt and Coquitlam.
Season Series
October 1st Trail 2 at Penticton 3 (OT)
November 30th Penticton 3 at Trail 5
December 14th Trail 3 at Penticton 4
January 4th Trail 3 at Penticton 2
January 28th Penticton at Trail
February 8th Trail at Penticton
February 10th Penticton at Trail
This is the fifth of seven meetings between the Vees and Smokies and first since Trail posted a 3-2 come-from-behind win in Penticton on January 4th. That was the Smoke Eaters first win at the SOEC since March of 2013, snapping a 13-game losing streak in Penticton. The two teams have split the four meetings so far, with the Vees winning twice at home. Trail scored a 5-3 victory over the Vees in their only other home game against Penticton, that back on November 30th. It’s been a very tight season series, with three of the first four games decided by one goal.
Penticton also will look to put an end to their road woes, as they’ve now dropped five straight away from the SOEC and to compound matters, all five have come in regulation. The Vees last road win was back on November 22nd, in West Kelowna. Trail is playing their first home game in two weeks, as they just finished a run of four straight road games. Wednesday the Smokies picked up a 5-3 win in Merritt and last Sunday they scored a 6-3 win in Coquitlam. Last time they were at home, the Smoke Eaters beat the Surrey Eagles 19-3, yes, 19-3 back on January 14th.
After tonight the two reconvene in Penticton on February 8th, before wrapping up the season series on February 10th back in Trail.
One area the Vees need to key on is their starts, or more importantly not playing from behind. The Vees haven’t held a lead since the 1:56 mark of the third period last Sunday in Salmon Arm. They have either been tied or been trailing for the last 148-minutes of hockey and in their last two games, they’ve fallen into three-goal holes to the Vipers. When the Vees do score first this season they’re 22-4 and when they have a lead after the second period they’re 22-2.
Mat Robson will likely get the start in goal for Penticton and is 27-9-1-1 on the season, owning a 2.06 goals-against average and sports a .925 save percentage. Robson is 2-2 in four games against Trail, owning a 2.92 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage.
Grant Cruikshank, who scored his team-leading 28th goal in the loss Friday, leads the Vees in scoring against Trail, posting three goals and six points in four games. Behind him is Nicholas Jones (2-2-4) and after that there’s five others with three points each.
Trail has used both Zach Dyment and Linden Marshall against the Vees this season and both have picked up wins. Marshall was the winning goalie back on January 4th, making 24 saves on 26 shots in that dramatic 3-2 win. Marshall has also started the Smokies’ last three games and has won his last two starts; you’d have to think he’s starting tonight.
The Smokies have one of the best, if not the best line in the BCHL in Luke Santerno, Josh Laframboise and Kale Howarth. The three are one, two and three in team scoring and have combined for 76 goals and 153 points this season. Santerno is first in team scoring with 29 goals and 54 points, followed by Howarth (26-25-51) and Laframboise (21-27-48). Howarth has the most points of any Trail player against Penticton this season, picking up four goals and five points in four games, and he and Howarth are 13th and 14th in the BCHL scoring race.
Tonight is the Vees second of five straight road games, as they visit the Merritt Centennials next Wednesday, and then hop over to Vancouver Island to play Victoria and Nanaimo next weekend. Trail isn’t back on the ice until next Friday when they host the Coquitlam Express.
January has been a challenging month for the Vees as they’re 3-5-1-0 in nine games and they look to close out the month on a positive with a win.
Fans can listen to tonight’s game on EZ Rock AM 800 locally, or on the iHeartRadio Canada app for their iPhone, iPad, smartphone or tablet. If you’re streaming through your web browser, go to the EZ Rock AM 800 website. The game is also available via the BCHL webcast at www.HockeyTV.com
