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Preview: Vees enter final weekend of regular season

Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (35-16-3-2) enter the final weekend of the regular season looking to lock up an eighth straight Interior Division title. The only team standing in their way is the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (27-24-4-1).

Wednesday, Penticton hosted the Wenatchee Wild and dropped a 3-1 game. The game was scoreless through 20 minutes despite odd-man rushes for both teams. The shots were 10-6 Vees after one.

Wenatchee scored a pair of similar-looking goals just three minutes apart in the middle frame. Both goals came off the rush on drop passes to the trailer. First was Brian Adams then Chad Sasaki. Wenatchee lead 2-0 after 40 minutes with Austin Park holding Penticton at bay.

Early in the third the Vees finally got on the board as David Silye’s shot from the right circle was deflected by Ryan Sandelin just eight seconds into a power play.

Despite being outshot 15-5 in the third. The Vees had plenty of zone time and looks toward the Wenatchee net, but couldn’t get many shots through to Park or get sticks on secondary chances in front before Josh Arnold sealed the win with the empty net goal.

The loss was especially tough considering how Jack LaFontaine played in the Vees crease, robbing the Wild on numerous odd-man rushes in the third period with the score 2-1. 

The game was the final game in hand the Vees had on the Merritt Centennials as the two teams are now tied for first in the Interior Division with 75 points and two games remaining. Penticton holds all tie breakers.

The Silverbacks know they’ll be in the playoffs, but are still fighting for home ice advantage in round one. Entering Friday they’re three points behind Vernon, needing to win both games against Penticton if they hope to jump over the Vipers for fourth place.

The Silverbacks are coming off three-straight games against Wenatchee, winning the first before dropping the final two. 

Penticton has seen Salmon Arm four times this season and holds a 2-1-0-1 record against their division rivals. The two teams opened the second half of the season with a home-and-home series January 4 and 6.

The Silverbacks came into the SOEC and won 3-1 before Penticton responded with a 5-3 victory two days later.

Team Statistics

Leading Scorers

Penticton Vees

James Miller – 18G 44A 56GP

David Silye – 18G 38A 52GP

Eric Linell – 26G 29A 58GP

Salmon Arm Silverbacks 

Matthew Verboon – 28G 28A 48GP

Justin Wilson – 21G 19A 31GP

Nick Unruh – 21G 18A 55GP

Special Teams

Penticton Vees

Power Play – 19.7 per cent (11th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill – 82.4 per cent (5th in BCHL)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Power Play – 21.4 per cent (7th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill – 81.9 per cent (6th in BCHL)

Season Series

October 12, 2018 – Vees 2 @ Silverbacks 3 SO Boxscore

November 9, 2018 – Vees 4 vs Silverbacks 2 Boxscore

January 4, 2019 – Vees 1 vs Silverbacks 3 Boxscore

January 6, 2019 – Vees 5 @ Silverbacks 3 Boxscore

February 22, 2019 – Vees @ Silverbacks

February 23, 2019 – Vees vs Silverbacks