Arena: SOEC, Penticton
Game Time: 6pm
Radio: EZ Rock AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey Pay-Per-View
Fresh off a hard-fought loss to Vernon, the Penticton Vees (32-14-2-4) look to jump back in the win column tonight, when they host the Victoria Grizzlies (32-13-3-3) at the SOEC.
Friday, the Vees had their three-game winning streak come to an end, as the Vipers gutted out a 2-1 come from behind win. Much different circumstances in West Kelowna Friday, as the Grizz outscored the Warriors to a tune of 8-5.
Patrick Sexton was the only Vee to score on Friday, as his seeing-eye shot from the point found the back of the net just 17 seconds into the game. Despite the quick start, the Vees failed to build off the early momentum, as Vernon tied the game midway through the second, courtesy of Michael McNicholas. Then Dexter Dancs scored, what would be the game-winning goal, early in the third on a penalty shot. Olivier Mantha was saddled with the loss, despite stopping 28 of 30 shots; he was very sharp.
Victoria won a shootout in West Kelowna, as they erased 2-1 and 4-2 deficits en route to the win over the Tribe. Myles Fitzgerald led the Grizz attack, as he picked up a goal and three points and in the process, leap-frogged Brad McClure for second place in the BCHL scoring race. Myles brother Gerry had a goal and two points to extend his point streak to an astonishing 17 games. Six different Grizzlies scored the eight goals and 13 of 18 picked up at least a point in the victory. Nic Renyard, who came into the game in relief, stopped 19 of 20 shots picking up his 14th win of the season.
The Vees clinched a playoff spot Friday despite losing, as Salmon Arm’s loss in Surrey assures them no worse than fourth in the Interior. If the Vees win tonight and Vernon losses in regulation, the Vees will clinch a top two playoff seed in the division.
Though Olivier Mantha was terrific in defeat, Hunter Miska is your projected starter for tonight. This is Miska’s first start since landing a scholarship to the University of Minnesota-Duluth earlier this week. Miska posted a 29-save shutout in his last start in Surrey on February 8th.
The Vees have won the first two meetings with the Grizzlies and both were by one goal. The Vees opened the season with a 2-1 win over Victoria, at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. They followed that up with a 3-2 win in the provincial capital on December 15th.
Vees Stat Pack:
Scoring vs. VIC:
McClure 2-2-4
Beauvais 1-3-4
Cooper 1-2-3
Dalpe 0-1-1
Point Streaks:
Stoykewych: No points in 10 games
Coatta: No points in 11 games
Coulombe: No points in 5 games
Last 5 Games:
Record: 3-2-0-0 (14 GF, 11 GA)
PP: 7/35 (20.00%)
PK: 24/25 (96.00%)
Since Trade Deadline: 7-5-0-1
Vees Post-Christmas Record: 8-5-1-1 (13-8-0-2 post-Christmas break last season)
Leaders:
Goals: McClure (37) (2nd in BCHL)
Assists: Beauvais (42) (4th in BCHL)
Points: McClure (71) (3rd in BCHL)
PIMs: Blanleil/Sexton (56) (T-46th in BCHL)
PPG: McClure (12) (2nd in BCHL)
PPA: Beauvais (22) (2nd in BCHL)
SHG: Pierog (3) (T-5th in BCHL)
Grizzlies Stat Pack:
Scoring vs. PEN:
G. Fitzgerald 1-1-2
McGuire 0-2-2
Albertini 1-0-1
Egli 0-1-1
Schwartz 0-1-1
G. Fitzgerald: 17 game point streak (15-16-31), multi point games in last 4 games
M. Fitzgerald: 4 game point streak (3-8-11), multi point games in last 4 games
Walchuk: No points in 13 games
McBride: No points in 13 games
Hahn: No points in 12 games
Meek: No points in 8 games
Last 5 Games:
Record: 4-1-0-0 (26 GF, 18 GA)
PP: 6/25 (24.00%)
PK: 13/17 (76.47%)
Only 5 players did not register point in 8-5 W over WK: Kearley, Meek, McBride, Hahn, and L. Fitzgerald
Goals: G. Fitzgerald (32) (3rd in BCHL)
Assists: M. Fitzgerald (49) (2nd in BCHL)
Points: M. Fitzgerald (72) (2nd in BCHL)
PIMs: Albertini (92) (T-4th in BCHL)
PPG: G. Fitzgerald (13) (1st in BCHL)
PPA: M. Fitzgerald (23) (1st in BCHL)
SHG: McLellan (2) (T-8th in BCHL)
