Game 46 Preview - Vees @ Vipers

Its been two weeks to the day since the Vipers and the Vees duked it out at Kal Tire Place and tonight they'll do it again.  The Vipers come in still battling the consistency bug although the last 3 games over the weekend were much better efforts.  The results just weren't there.  Getting those three points were important and didn't get burned in the standings and still sit 4 points above the Silverbacks and 6 points ahead of the Cents.  This week, the Vipers need to see the results on the scoreboard as well the effort level.  For the Vees, they come in scuffling with just a point in their last three games all in divisional matchups.  This isn't a foreign feeling for the Vees who struggled at this point last season before going on to battle for the BCHL Championship.  For the first time in nearly three years however, they have found their lead atop the division in question as the Warriors are within 4 points with 2 games in hand.  The standings remain tight and every game is important.

Season Series - September 25 - Vipers 3 Penticton 1 - Kal Tire Place
                      - October 25 - Penticton 6 Vipers 5 - 2OT - SOEC
                      - November 20 - Penticton 5 Vipers 2 - SOEC
                      - January 10 - Penticton 2 Vipers 1 - Kal Tire Place

Vernon Vipers 

Record - 23-14-3-5 - 3rd in the Interior Division

Home Record - 13-4-3-3          Away Record - 10-10-0-2

Leaders - Goals - Brett Mulcahy (26)
             - Assists - Michael McNicholas (37)
             - Points - Michael McNicholas (57)

Goaltending - Austin Smith - 25 GP, 12-7-3-2, 2.61 GAA, .916Sv%
                   - Danny Todosychuk - 20 GP, 10-7-0-1, 3.06 GAA, .902Sv%

Special Teams - Powerplay - 16th in the league - 26 for 169 - 15.38%
                       - Penalty Kill - 6th in the league - 155 of 189 - 82.01%

Penticton Vees 

Record - 27-11-2-4 - 1st in the Interior Division

Home Record - 14-4-0-3          Away Record - 13-7-2-1

Leaders - Goals - Brad McClure (33)
             - Assists - Brett Beauvais (39)
             - Points - Brad McClure (62)

Goaltending - Hunter Miska - 25 GP, 13-4-2-4, 2.27 GAA, .915Sv%
                   - Olivier Mantha - 21 GP, 14-6-0-0, 2.28 GAA, .911Sv%

Special Teams - Powerplay - 1st in the league - 39 for 174 - 22.41%
                       - Penalty Kill - 1st in the league - 147 of 168 - 87.50%

This is the 5th matchup up of the season between these two teams with the Vees holding the slight edge.  All the games have been close and it should be a fun one from Kal Tire Place.  Its internet only tonight and starts at 6:45 with the pregame show.