After seeing their season-high seven-game win streak come to end Friday, the Penticton Vees (31-12-0-3) are looking to start another tonight when the host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (23-16-1-5) at the SOEC; puck drop is 5pm.
The Vees were shutout 1-0 by the Merritt Centennials Friday, the first time in over two seasons the Vees were kept off the score-sheet. In order to fine the last time the Vees were goose-egged you have to go back to February 4th, 2011 when the Trail Smoke Eaters took a 6-0 win out of the SOEC; 113 games between shutout losses.
The Bulldogs pushed their win streak to five games last night dismantling the Trail Smoke Eaters 8-1 at Cominco arena. With their win and combined with Penticton’s loss, the ‘Dogs now have the best active win streak in the BCHL. After skating to a 2-1 lead after the opening twenty minutes, the ‘Dogs exploded for six goals in the final two periods; four in the third Teal Burns, Matt Hansen and Manny Gialedakis all finished with four points; Gialedakis leading the way with four goals. The eight goals match a season high, which was duplicated back on September 14th in an 8-7 overtime win over Cowichan Valley.
The Vees have a stiff test in front of them this afternoon but can lean on past experience to help seem them through. The Vees took the first meeting 6-3 back on January 19th in Port Alberni. The Vees did get scoring from up and down their line-up, as five different players tickled the twine and four had multiple point games. Nic Renyard was stellar in relief of Chad Katunar, making 24 saves on 25 shots in 51 minutes of work; Katunar surrendered two goals on three shots.
If there is a silver lining about the 1-0 setback Friday, is the fact the Vees seem to bounce back after being saddled with a loss. Through 46 games, the Vees are 11-3-0 when losing the game prior and haven’t lost back-to-back games since November 9th and 10th.
Only two players in the BCHL’s top ten in league scoring will be playing in tonight’s games Wade Murphy and John Siemer sit sixth and seventh respectively in league scoring. Evan Tironese is the Bulldogs top point-getter and ranks 22nd in the BCHL with 16 goals and 42 points. Though the Bulldogs don’t have any player in the Top 20 in league scoring, they do have three in the Top 40 and sit fifth in league scoring; averaging 3.33 goals per-game.
The Vees will ice the same line-up as Friday, with Chad Katunar getting his fifth straight start. The Bulldogs line-up will be determined at game time; Brad Rebagliati in goal.
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