Merritt Game Day: Centennials VS Penticton Vees

Merritt Centennials – 1-0-0

The Cents started slow, outshot 9-2 by Powell River and down 1-0 early. Somehow the team managed to still outshoot their opponents in all three periods, 41-38 overall. The home side has now witnessed back-to-back home victories for the first time in a LONG time. (the first win WAS preseason.) The Cents have also rattled off 4 plus goals in both wins. We’ll see if the Centennials can end a 20 game losing streak against their rivals tonight as Captain Aiden Lindblad returns from suspension. It will be his 100th BCHL Game. 

Penticton Vees – 0-1-0

The Vees won 93 percent of their games last season, all of their home games, and only lost a single playoff game. This season? A shocking 0-1 start. Will the Vees continue their five year winning streak over the Cents? Will Penticton flex their muscles and bounce back with a dominant victory over the home side? A lot of turnover has fans and critics speculating the Vees could be a on a downward trend. 

Previous Meetings;

The Merritt Centennials 

The Centennials are 0-19-1 against the Vees in three meetings over five seasons. 

Last season the Centennials came close in a 5-4 overtime loss that had the Vees on their toes. Every other game was a blowout loss. In that game Merritt led 4-3 late in the third period but was unable to pull off what would’ve likely been “upset of the year.”

Blue Paint Battle;

Andrew Ballantyne nearly had a shutout stopping 28 of 29 shots in the Cents final preseason win then stopped 35 of 38 last night against Powell River.

Andrew Ness stopped 21 of 25 shots against the high octane West Kelowna offense 

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 25 % (1/4) (…) PK 66 % (1/3) (…)

Vees – PP 100% (1/1) (…) PK 100% (1/1) (…)

Players to Watch;

Aiden Lindblad will play his 100th BCHL game after being named Captain earlier this week.

Swiss born Simon Meier has 1 G and 1 A, Thomas Pichette had 2 A in last nights loss.

Puck drop 7 p.m.