Arena: South Surrey Arena
Game Time: 7pm
Radio: EZ Rock AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey Pay-Per-View
The Penticton Vees (31-13-2-4) make a trip to the Lower Mainland to face the Surrey Eagles (22-26-1-1) as they look to sweep their three-game schedule this week. This is the second and final meeting between these two teams, as the Vees scored a 7-1 win
Nic Pierog and Anthony Conti face their former teams for the first time since they were traded for one another in early in January. Early returns, points wise, favour the Eagles, as Conti has five goals and 10 points in 11 games; Pierog has five. But the Vees acquired the veteran centerman for his post-season experience; this trade will be evaluated in the spring.
Riley Alferd and Cody DePourcq each had a goal and an assist in Friday's 3-2 win over Salmon Arm, and Travis Blanleil scored the game-winner midway through the second period; his first in 16 games. It was the Vees first win against the Silverbacks in six tries this season.
The Vees are 11-6-1-1 since playing Surrey back on December 7th and are 4-3-1-1 against the Mainland Division this season. This is the Vees first non-divisional game since December 15th, when they took a 3-2 decision in Victoria.
The Vees will be without Head Coach Fred Harbinson and forward Shane McColgan for tonight's game. Both were handed an automatic one-game suspension, after McColgan was saddled with a double-minor illegal equipment penalty in the first period of Friday's win.
The Vees will also be without another forward, as Ben Dalpe will sit out with the flu; he played sick last night. Cam Amantea and Josh Blanchard return to the line-up after sitting out last night.
Hunter Miska gets his third straight start and is seeking out his 17th win of the season. Miska is 16-6-2-4 on the year with a 2.37 goals-against average, while owning a .910 save percentage; he’s 1-0-1-1 against the Interior.
The Eagles have won three games in a row but haven’t played since February 1st, when they thumped the Chilliwack Chiefs 7-4; that was a home-and-home sweep, as they downed the Chiefs 5-2 one night earlier.
Surrey has already sewn up a playoff spot in the Mainland Division, as they can finish no worse than fourth. With eight games remaining on their schedule, the Eagles are seven points of the Coquitlam Express for third.
One half of the Renouf twins leads the Eagles in scoring, as Jonah Renouf is out ahead of the pack with 16 goals and 53 points. 18-year-old rookie Danton Heinen, and now Captain, is second in scoring with 23 goals and 52 points; Nathan Renouf sits third with 14 goals and 42 points.
