Both teams are coming off games on Friday that went to a shootout with the Smoke Eaters winning their battle and the Vees losing theirs, as the Smoke Eaters look for their third win in a row.
Season series versus the Vees:
Oct. 15 Trail 3 at Penticton 4 Final OT
Dec. 11 Penticton at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 5 Trail at Penticton 6:00 pm PST
Feb. 12 Penticton at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 5 Trail at Penticton 6:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters come into tonight’s game with two wins in a row and 3 in their last four games thanks to last night’s entertaining shootout win over the Vernon Vipers. The Smoke Eaters faced a wide arrange of adversity in Friday’s game and still found a way to win. They lost Cam Moger early to a game misconduct penalty and had to kill off the five minute major penalty, which they did successfully. That penalty kill was a pivotal point of the game as the Smoke Eaters were able to come out in the second period still on level terms. Tonight they’ll need more of the same if they are to hand the Vees their first regulation loss in 11 games. The last time these two teams met it was an instant classic with the Vees winning in overtime 4-3. Despite the loss the Smoke Eaters felt like they should have won that game and will get the chance tonight to back those words up.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Michaelis (16-9-25)
Hunter (8-17-25)
Lagerback (11-9-20)
Cunningham (6-14-20)
Disher (6-13-19)
Coming off their battle for first place in the Interior Conference, the Vees picked up an important point to stay above the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the standing despite ultimately losing the game in a shootout. The Vees and Silverbacks went back and forth for 60 plus minutes as the Silverbacks tied the game with 59 seconds remaining to force overtime. The Vees would then go 0/3 in the shootout to lose their first game in 11 as their 10 game win streak came to an end. On their run the Vees beat the Centennials and Bucks twice, the Vipers, Prince George, West Kelowna, Wenatchee, Victoria and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 2-1 in overtime that kicked off their winning streak. As they usually do the Vees lead the league with 110 goals scored and just 44 allowed making them a team that scores in bunches and are hard to score on.
Vees leading scorers:
Nadeau (17-13-30)
Wilson (13-17-30)
Williams (8-21-29)
Moravec (12-11-23)
Nadeau (10-11-21)
It’s a game you never want to miss as the Vees come to town to take on the Smoke Eaters for the first time this season on Cominco ice. Get your tickets HERE or the box office opens at 6pm! If you can’t make it to the game tonight catch all the action on BCHLTV or listen free on Mixlr.
