Where: SOEC
When: 7pm
Who: Vees vs Warriors
Two more games before the Vees depart for the Christmas Break and both are against a close rival. The Penticton Vees (24-7-1-3) host the West Kelowna Warriors (18-12-1-2), in the first half of a home-and-home; the two wrapping things up tomorrow at Royal LePage Place.
The Vees are coming in red-hot, winners of eight straight, three of which came on their recent three-game trip in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The Vees swept the trip with wins over Chilliwack (6-3), Cowichan Valley (5-1) and Victoria (3-2). Tonight is their first home game in nine days and first meeting with West Kelowna since November 26th.
The last time the Vees hosted the Tribe was back on October 18th, the Vees skating to a 3-2 victory. This is the fourth game of a seven-game season series between these two, the Vees have won the first three encounters. Their run of success against West Kelowna has been well documented, as they’ve just lost once to the Tribe in the last three years; they’re 17-1-0 against West-K dating back to October, 2011. A big key to the Vees success against West Kelowna this year has been their special teams. The Vees are 5-10 on the power-play and a perfect 13-13 on the penalty-kill in three games.
Coinciding with the Vees success of late, has been the play of their top-line. Steen Cooper, Ben Dalpe and Brad McClure combined for seven goals and 18 points in the Vees four wins last week, and since being put together, the three have combined for 14 goals and 36 points in seven games.
Hunter Miska gets the start in goal tonight and is 2-0-0 this season against the Warriors, with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .918 save-percentage. Miska has stopped 56 of 61 shots in three games against West-K.
West Kelowna had their three-game winning streak snapped Wednesday in Vernon. The Vipers scored once in the second and twice in the third, one being an empty-netter, in a 3-1 win; Jason Cotton spoiled Austin Smith’s shutout bid. The Warriors have won three of their last five games and are 11-7-1-0 against the Interior this season. Cotton and Hesler are the Warriors top forwards against Penticton this season, both have three points in as many games; Cotton has two goals. Andy Desautels is 0-3-0 against the Vees, with a 3.79 goals-against average and a .875 save-percentage.
