The Merritt Centennials (10-32-1-3) face off against Mainland division foe, the Surrey Eagles (20-20-3-4) tonight.
The Cents are coming off a game where they skated with the Penticton Vees through the final 40 minutes, but 4 unanswered in the first from the Vees helped them to a 6-2 win.The Vees were able to get after the Cents early and often in the first period. They opened the scoring 4 minutes into the game, and then used a 4 minute stretch at the halfway mark to add 3 more to put them in the driver’s seat. Despite some solid play, possession, and effort from the Cents they weren’t able to pull through until a late penalty in the 2nd to Carson Kosobud. With the Cents on the powerplay, they were cycling the puck around well. Thomas Manty found Talon Zakall in the high slot and he unleashed a shot that got tipped by Payton Matsui along the way to get the Cents on the board. In the 3rd period frustrations started to show for the Centennials as the penalties started to pile up and the Vees scored shortly after one expired. Payton Matsui got his 2nd of the game shorthanded after surging down the left wing, pulling to his backhand and sliding it five hole on Stankowski. Despite the 2 goal effort from Matsui, the Cents would fall 6-2.
The Surrey Eagles come into the game off the heels of a 3-0 shutout of the Prince George Spruce Kings. Christophe Tellier, Hudson Schandor, and Hassan Akl tallied for the Eagles and Reece Klassen picked up the win and the shutout stopping all 35 shots he faced. Over their last 5 the Eagles are 3-2, and in the month of January they have gone 5-3-1. Despite losing Holden Katzalay to the Vancouver Giants of the WHL earlier this season, their offense has been able to hold steady with the likes of Tellier leading the way.
This will be the 2nd and final matchup of the season series. The Cents were 5-3 winners back in late November, but they went into the 3rd period trailing 3-0. They used some timely scoring from Jake McLean and Wyatt Marlow, plus a hat trick from Josh Kagan to pull themselves back from the brink and secure a victory. The Cents will be hoping they can pull themselves back from the brink of a 10 game losing skid and bring it to a halt against these Eagles.
Christian Buono was held off the scoresheet last night and has 31 points. With 2 goals last night, Payton Matsui now has 30 points, and Daniel Tkac has 25.
The Eagles are led by Christophe Tellier up front with 54 points, and he’s 5th in league scoring. Hudson Schandor has 49 points, and then there’s a bit of a drop to Brandon Santa Juana who has 32 points.
The special teams battle sees the Cents coming off a solid performance, converting on 1/3 and going 5/5 on the PK.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
Cents – 11% (17th) Cents – 73.9% (17th)
Eagles -17.6% (11th) Eagles – 83.3% (7th)
In net, Ryan Winter turned in a solid performance after settling into the game. He’s now 3-14-1 with a .899 SV% and a 4.05 GAA with 1 shutout. Tanner Marshall is 6-17 with a .880 SV% and a 4.91 GAA.
Reece Klassen has come into the Eagles at the deadline and sort of stolen the starting role. Now 4-1-1 with a .922 SV% a 2.16 GAA and 1 shutout. Thomas Scarfone is 11-10-2 with a .918 SV% and a 2.74 GAA.
Assistant Coach Zach Wright says the team just needs to play that full 60.
“We saw a solid 40 last night, but we weren’t good enough in the opening frame. We need to put it all together and be ready for tonight.”
The Cents hope to be on the right side of the result after 60 minutes tonight.
Puck drop 7pm. Pre-game 6:45 with Jared Thomas and Michael Reeve.
Lots of reasons to come to the rink tonight. Please consider bringing new or used books for the Bright Red Bookshelves in support of Literacy Merritt. There will be prize packs to be won, on and off the ice. Minor Hockey kids get in free when wearing their jerseys, and there’s a chance to win $10,000 IF the Cents score in the first 25 seconds of the third period with the purchase of a program.
