Arena: SOEC, Penticton
Game Time: 7pm
Radio: EZ ROCK AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey Pay-Per-View
The Penticton Vees (29-13-2-4) hope to turn around their recent struggles, when they host the Trail Smoke Eaters (9-36-2-3) at the SOEC. It’s the last “Wicked Wednesday” of the season, as a 2001 Honda Civic 4Door will be raffled off tonight; tickets are just $5 and beer is $2.50.
The Vees were swept by the Salmon Arm Silverbacks last weekend in a home-and-home series, and are now tied on points with the West Kelowna Warriors for top spot in the Interior Division; the Warriors beat Salmon Arm 5-2 Tuesday. The Vees have had their share of struggles in 2014, as they’re 2-4-0-1 in their last seven and just 5-6-1-1 since December 20th.
However, they’re 5-0-0 against the Smokies this season, outscoring them 23-7 in the season series, including a 5-2 win back on January 25th at the SOEC; after tonight these two play once more, again at the SOEC on February 21st.
If numbers are any indication, the Vees know how to bounce back, as they’re 9-3-1-2 when coming off a loss, outscoring their opponents 53-35.
Hunter Miska will get his second consecutive start tonight and is 14-6-2-4 on the year with a 2.36 goals-against average and .913 save-percentage. Usually, with the goalie rotation, it would be Olivier Mantha getting the nod between the pipes but Miska’s numbers versus Trail are hard to ignore. Miska is 3-0-0 against the Smokies, with a minuscule 1.33 goals-against average and a sparkling .946 save-percentage.
Max Coatta leads the Vees in scoring against Trail, as he has a team best four goals and seven points. Right behind Coatta is Jack Ramsey (1-5-6) and Brad McClure (3-2-5).
After tonight, the Vees have nine remaining games on their schedule; five at home, four on the road.
Trail is marred in a seven-game losing streak dating back to January 18th and hasn’t won a game against an Interior Division opponent since January 4th. In fact, they’re just 3-24-0-1 against their own division. In all five games against the Vees this season, the Smoke Eaters have been held to two or less goals, and have allowed five or more in three of the five meetings.
Jesse Knowler still leads the Smokies in scoring (6-17-23), despite not having played since January 3rd. Bryan Basilico (11-8-19) and Scott Davidson (7-12-19) round out the top three in team scoring.
