Photo Credit: Garrett James Photography
The 2nd in the Interior Division Merritt Centennials (26-13-3-2) face off in a rivalry match up against the team chasing them in the standings, the Wenatchee Wild (26-15-2-2) tonight.
***PUCK DROP 6PM***
The Centennials are looking to pick up points for a 9th game straight, but are looking to snap their first 3 game slide of the season with all losses coming in heart breaking OT fashion. Last week they fell to the Chilliwack Chiefs 4-3 in overtime. Ben Ward, Frazer Dodd, and Brendan Schneider tallied for Merritt, but the Chiefs tied the game in the final minute and then got a Cents own-goal to win it in extra time. The heart break continued on Sunday night with the Penticton Vees in town. The goaltender duel saw Austin Roden and Jack LaFonataine go toe to toe each making huge saves throughout. Brad Cocca scored his first goal of 2019, but once again the opposition tied things up in the final minute to send it to OT. Both goalies made sure nothing would be solved 3-on-3 and the shootout went 10 rounds before the Vees finally persevered on a shootout goal by Jack Barnes. Roden made 38 saves, plus 8 denials in the shootout in a second star performance.
The Cents and Wild have been evenly matched this season with both teams splitting the season series 2-2, and both teams picking up a wins on home ice and away. The first game of the season saw the offense erupt for a 7-5 final, then the Cents won a 4-3 thriller in OT, the Wild took the 2nd game of the back-to-back 6-1, and the most recent contest at the NVMA on Nov. 14th saw the Wild win 3-2 in regulation.
The Wild are a team that relies on their team speed, and team depth to win them hockey games. They’re tied with the Centennials in the goals-for department with 167, but there offense is a little more spread out as 15 players have more than 20 points. Comparatively, the Cents have 10 players with over 20 points. The Wild have played their last 5 games at home, and are 2-1-2 over that span, dropping 2 games in the shootout including their most recent against the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-3.
The Cents are still waiting to break out offensively in 2019, as they haven’t scored more than 5 goals in a game. Brad Cocca busted his mini-slump on Sunday vs the Vees and is 7th in the league with 53 points. Nick Granowicz has been silent since the 2nd game of 2019 and is 12th league-wide with 48 points, and Captain Nick Wicks has been chipping in with regularity and is now 20th with 45 points.
The Wild only have one scorer in the top 20, but have a deep lineup that comes at your in waves with 15 skaters recording more than 20 points. Matt Gosiewski has 45 points and is 18th in league scoring, Captain Lucas Sowder has 41 points, and Murphy Stratton has 37 points.
The special teams battle sees both teams struggling with the extra man, but the Cents are coming off a week where they went 0/13.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
Wild – 18% (15th) Wild – 84% (4th)
Cents – 17.9% (16th) Cents – 76.2% (15th)
In net both goaltenders are coming off overtime losses, but Austin Roden was an absolute beast in the Cents latest effort against the Vees. Roden is now 18-6-2 with a .903 SV%, a 3.17 GAA and 1 shutout. Vincent Duplessis is 8-5-3 with a .904 SV% and a 3.34 GAA. Austin Park and Cal Sandquist both split the net pretty evenly for the Wild. Park has more wins at 15-9 with a .883 SV%, a 2.81 GAA, and 2 shutouts. Sandquist is 11-8 with a .884 SV%, and a 2.56 GAA.
Assistant Coach Brandon Shaw says that the Cents have seen Wenatchee enough times to know the strength of their game.
“We know what they like to do offensively especially in their own building, we have to be ready to make quick decisions with the puck, and match their pace.”
The Cents will look to put the strength of their game on display tonight.
Puck Drop 6pm. Pre-Game 5:45 on Hockey TV and Q101.ca with Jared Thomas.
