Game Preview: Vees at Silverbacks (Game Six)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 6:00 pm PST
Location: Shaw Centre, Salmon Arm
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
| Season Series | Playoffs |
| Dec. 8, Penticton 0 at Salmon Arm 1 | GM 1: May 3, Salmon Arm 2 at Penticton 0 |
| Dec. 9, Salmon Arm 2 at Penticton 1 | GM 2: May 4, Salmon Arm 1 at Penticton 4 |
| Dec. 30, Penticton 3 at Salmon Arm 4 | GM 3: May 6, Penticton 4 at Salmon Arm 1 |
| Feb 2, Penticton 5 at Salmon Arm 2 | GM 4: May 8, Penticton 1 at Salmon Arm 2 OT |
| Feb 19, Penticton 2 at Salmon Arm 3 (OT) | GM 5: May 10, Salmon Arm 3 at Penticton 1 |
| March 23, Salmon Arm 2 at Penticton 1 (SO) | GM 6: May 12, Penticton at Salmon Arm, 7:00pm |
| GM 7: May 14, Salmon Arm at Penticton, 7:00pm* | |
| *If necessary |
Penticton Vees
President, GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Regular Season Record: GP 54 38-10-3-3, 1st in the Interior Conference
Playoff Record: 10-4
Last Game: 3-1 loss vs. Salmon Arm (May 10)
Home: 6-2
Away: 4-2
GF: 37
GA: 21
Power Play: (5/31) 16.1%
Penalty Kill: (3/25) 88.0%
Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (6-6-12)
It’s win or go home for the Penticton Vees. Last night, the Vees lost Game Five 3-1 at the SOEC and now trail the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 3-2 in the best-of-seven Interior Conference Final.
It wasn’t for a lack of shots or chances in Game Five, as the Vees outshot Salmon Arm 39-21 and had their fair share of quality scoring chances. Penticton outshot the Silverbacks 18-8 in the first period but trailed 1-0. They then outshot Salmon Arm 14-5 in the third period but couldn’t generate a tying goal. Effort is there, the finish is not. In the last two games, the Vees have fired 79 shots on net but just have two goals to show for it.
Sounds cliché but the Vees will need to find a way to bear down and extend this series to a Game Seven Tuesday. Penticton has shown they can score in the series, as they posted back-to-back 4-1 wins in Game Two and Three. Scoring first will go a long way too
The Silverbacks have scored first in four of the first five games in this series and are 9-2 in the playoffs when they do so. The Vees have scored first in just six of their 14 playoffs games but are 5-1 when they do. An early goal will go a long way in restoring some offensive confidence.
The power play scored last night, snapping an 0-12 slump that dated back to Game Four of the Vernon series. The power play had a more direct approach last night and seemed to be the most dangerous we have seen it all series. That could be a big boost for Penticton going forward.
There is so many cliches that can be thrown around an elimination game. Simply put, the Vees must have more desperation, more moxie in their game than Salmon Arm. Penticton needs to show they want to extend this series to a seventh game, more than Salmon Arm wants to clinch it on home ice.
No lineup changes tonight for the Vees. Will Ingemann gets the call between the pipes and in five games in this series he sports a 1.47 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks
General Manager: Brooks Christensen
Head Coach: Tyler Shattock
Regular Season Record: GP 54 34-17-0-3, 3rd in the Interior Conference
Playoff Record: 11-5
Last Game: 3-1 win at Penticton (May 10)
Home: 5-2
Away: 6-3
GF: 48
GA: 31
Power Play: (7/39) 17.9%
Penalty Kill: (5/39) 87.2%
Scoring Leader: Cole Cooksey (8-6-14)
Salmon Arm is one win away from their second ever Fred Page Cup Final appearance and first since 2004. The Silverbacks have a chance to win the Interior Conference on home ice. A moment their fans have been waiting for 20 years.
Th Silverbacks put themselves in the driver’s seat with Game Five road win, their second road win of this series. In fact, if you go back to the regular season, Salmon Arm has won four of five games at the SOEC this season. Impressive.
Eli Pulver has been a big storyline in this series and rightfully so. The 20-year-old goaltender has a 1.53 goals-against average and .957 save percentage against Penticton. One area he has seen a slight “dip” is in back-to-back starts. In the second game on consecutive nights, Pulver is 2-4 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. Still, very good numbers, but not the near impenetrable numbers he has posted throughout the postseason. After shutting out Penticton in Game One, Pulver allowed three goals on 35 shots in Game Two, as the Vees went on to win 4-1. Something to follow in Game Six tonight.
Salmon Arm has been an excellent home team throughout this season and are 5-2 at the Shaw Centre so far in the BCHL Playoffs. If you include the regular season, they’re 4-2 in six home games against Penticton this season.