Game 48 Preview - Smokies @ Vipers

The Vernon Vipers started off the new year with a 4-1 loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters, tonight they look to end January with a victory.  The month of January hasn`t been kind to the Vipers as they will finish the month under .500 for the first time all year long.  They still hold their fate in their hands as they head into the final month of the regular season.  For the Smokies, its all about building for next year.  Players are playing for jobs, 20 year olds are playing out the remainder for the days ahead.  This team can be very dangers as they showed at the beginning of the month.  Until recently they had been playing great hockey, before suffering a 8-1 loss in Merritt.  Its a big game for the Vipers to try generate some momentum.

Season Series - October 15 - Vipers 6 Trail 3 - Kal Tire Place
                      - November 22 - Vipers 4 Trail 1 - Cominco Arena
                      - December 1 - Vipers 6 Trail 3 - Kal Tire Place
                      - December 13 - Vipers 6 Trail 3 - Kal Tire Place
                      - January 3 - Trail 4 Vipers 1 - Cominco Arena

Vernon Vipers 

Record - 23-15-4-5 - 3rd in the Interior Division

Home Record - 13-5-3-3            Away Record - 10-10-1-2

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

Goaltending - Austin Smith - 26 GP - 12-8-3-2, 2.75 GAA, .913Sv%
                   - Danny Todosychuk - 22 GP - 10-6-1-2, 3.08 GAA, .902Sv%

Special Teams - Powerplay - 16th in the league - 26 for 174 - 14.94%
                       - Penalty Kill - 7th in the league - 161 of 197 - 81.73%

Trail Smoke Eaters 

Record - 9-34-2-3

Home Record - 5-16-2-1           Away Record - 4-18-0-2

Leaders - Goals - Bryan Basilico (10)
             - Assists - Jesse Knowler (17)
             - Points - Jesse Knowler (23)

Goaltending - Dustin Nikkel - 24 GP - 4-16-2-1, 4.18 GAA, .881Sv%
                   - Adam Todd - 18 GP - 3-11-0-3, 4.57 GAA, .888Sv%

Special Teams - Powerplay - 14th in the league - 35 for 199 - 17.59%
                       - Penalty Kill - 13th in the league - 154 of 195 - 78.97%

Tonights game is Viper defenseman Josh Bryans 200th BCHL game, so a big congratulations goes out to him!  All the action will be on the Vipers MixLR starting at 6:45!