The Merritt Centennials (10-23-1-3) take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals (23-12-3-1) in a matinee matchup.
The Merritt Centennials weren’t able to cash in on their chances, and gave some good ones to the Warriors who got back to within 3 points before Christmas with a 5-3 win. The first period saw the Cents come out a little flat against the Warriors to start and they played with fire one too many times as the Warriors scored on the powerplay to make it 1-0. That woke the Centennials up and they were able to score two goals 29 seconds apart from Matt Osadick and Hunor Torzsok both on beautiful wristers from the left side to make it 2-1 Cents. Merritt started to get into penalty trouble late in the frame, and headed into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead and two men in the box. The Warriors would score on three gifts from the Centennials in the 2nd period. Olson Werenka scored an own goal trying to break up a pass. Buono would score on the PP, but Max Bulawka scored after the puck bounced right back to his stick after Joey Berkopec broke up a pass, and Werenka and Zakall were picked off behind the net to make it 4-3 Warriors after 2. The Warriors would add an empty netter to take the game 5-3.
The Capitals are coming in off some hard fought games against the top teams in the interior in Trail and Penticton. They fell 4-3 in Trail, but were able to best the Penticton Vees in a shootout 6-5. Before that their last game came against the Centennials last Saturday, a tight checking 3-2 win in the shootout over Tanner Marshall and the Cents. The Cents got two goals from Hunor Torzsok and were in the drivers seat until the final seconds when Cowichan tied the game to send it to extra time. Both Caps goals came from rookie Matthew Crasa. The game went all the way to the shootout and the Capitals would edge the Cents.
Christian Buono picked up another goal last night and now has a team leading 28 points. Payton Matsui has 23, while Thomas Manty has 18 points.
The Capitals are led by Luc Wilson up front who has 40 points, defender Dimitri Mikrogiannakis has 37 and rookie Matthew Crasa has 33.
The special teams continues to click for the Centennials, but the Capitals are at the next level.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
Cents – 10.9% (17th) Cents – 72% (17th)
Caps – 23.8% (4th) Caps – 81.8% (8th)
The goaltending duel sees Ryan Winter coming off a pair of solid performances, but Tanner Marshall who may have had the performance of his career in a 57 save game against the Capitals last weekend. Marshall is 6-10-1 with a .882 SV% and a 4.45 GAA. Ryan Winter is 3-11-2 with a .902 SV% and a 4.08 GAA.
The Capitals have two solid options in net. Zach Borgiel is 16-8-1 with a .903 SV% and a 2.98 GAA. Ben Howard is 7-4-2 with an .889 SV% and a 3.14 GAA.
Head Coach Derek Sweet Coulter says the Capitals brought out the best in the Cents last Saturday and he hopes it happens again.
“We’ve seen this team once before, and the Cents played one of their best games. We need to play at that level again if we want to get past the Capitals.”
The Cents will look for the best result possible this afternoon.
Puck drop 2pm. Pre-Game 1:45 on Q101 and Hockey TV with Jared Thomas and Michael Reeve.
