GAME PREVIEW: Vees Look For 3-1 Series Lead In Game #4 Of Interior Conference Quarter Final Series
PHOTO: Steve Piccolo
The Penticton Vees look to make it three wins in a row in their Interior Conference Quarter Final series against the Trail Smoke Eaters with Game #4 coming on Tuesday night at Cominco Arena.
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. TRAIL
Friday, October 15th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (4-3 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, December 11th @ Trail Memorial Centre (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, February 5th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, February 12th @ Trail Memorial Centre (5-4 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, March 5th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE vs. TRAIL
Game #1: Thursday, March 31st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (5-3 Smoke Eaters) (BOXSCORE)
Game #2: Friday, April 1st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (5-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #3: Monday, April 4th @ Cominco Arena (2-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #4: Tuesday, April 5th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #5: Thursday, April 7th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*Game #6: Saturday, April 9th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #7: Monday, April 11th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*- If Necessary
The Vees earned their second win of the series on Monday night in Game #3 of their Interior Conference Quarter Final series in a 2-1 victory over the Smoke Eaters at Cominco Arena. Luc Wilson scored six seconds into the 2nd period while Casey McDonald later added a shorthanded goal to help the Vees to a win. Kaeden Lane continued to be strong in between the pipes for Penticton, making 28 saves on 29 shots in his 2nd win of the playoffs.
Vees Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (29-46-75)
Josh Nadeau (40-32-72)
Bradly Nadeau (20-26-46)
Brett Moravec (22-19-41)
Casey McDonald (20-17-37)
Vees Playoff Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (1-4-5)
Casey McDonald (2-1-3)
Aydar Suniev (2-0-2)
Adam Eisele (1-1-2)
Brett Moravec (1-1-2)
Points in three straight games to begin the series has Vees forward Casey McDonald as the second leading scorer on the team, posting a pair of goals and an assist for three points in the series thus far. The American International College (AIC) commit scored 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points in his 52-game regular season while not registering a shorthanded goal in that time, unlike what the Plenty, Saskatchewan native did in Game #3 with his shorthanded tally standing up as the game winner on Monday night.
Another player with points in every game of the series thus far is Vees forward Luc Wilson, who scored his first goal of the postseason on Monday night, coming just six seconds into the 2nd period of play. The University of Minnesota State-Mankato commit is tied for 2nd in the league when it comes to point scoring, registering 5 points in three playoff games while the Duncan, BC native is tied for the top spot in the league in assists with 4 thus far.
Back-to-back games allowing just a goal have put Vees goaltender Kaeden Lane in a good spot heading into Game #4 on Tuesday night. The University of Northern Michigan commit has turned aside 52 of the 54 shots he has faced in his last two games, posting a 2.02 goals against average and a .921 save percentage over the course of the playoffs. The Burnaby, BC native registered a 28-3-1 record in the regular season to go along with a 2.07 GAA and a .910 SV% along with a league-high 6 shutouts on the year.
The Smoke Eaters come into Tuesday night’s Game #4 following a 2-1 loss on Monday night in Game #3 at Cominco Arena. As he did on Friday night, Teddy Lagerback scored the lone goal for Trail in the defeat while Cole Tisdale made 31 saves on 33 shots in his 2nd loss of the playoffs.
Smoke Eaters Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Brady Hunter (21-35-56)
Zach Michaelis (28-24-52)
Teddy Lagerback (25-24-49)
Quinn Disher (14-27-41)
Coalson Wolford (12-20-32)
Smoke Eaters Playoff Leading Scorers:
Teddy Lagerback (2-0-2)
Zach Michaelis (1-1-2)
Charlie Strobel (1-1-2)
Ethan Warrener (0-2-2)
Coalson Wolford (0-2-2)
Scoring each of the last two Smoke Eaters goals have come from forward Teddy Lagerback, who has scored in each of his last two games and leads the team with his pair of markers through three playoff games. The Arizona State University commit finished 3rd on the team in total points scoring with 24 assists to go along with his 25 goals to finish his first BC Hockey League campaign with 49 points.
The Vees and Smoke Eaters get set for Game #4 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Quarter Final series with Penticton leading the series 2-1. Game #4 gets underway on Tuesday night at Cominco Arena with the game being broadcasted live on Bounce Radio 800 as well as streamed online at BCHLTV.ca beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 PM.