The Silverbacks visit the Penticton Vees at 7 p.m. tonight for the sixth meeting of the season. The Vees lead the season series with two regulation wins, and a double-overtime victory in October. Each team settled for a point after a 3-3 tie in December at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. And the 'Backs won the last meeting 3-0 on Saturday, January 3rd in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks have lost their last two games after finishing their Island road trip with a 4-1 setback to the Clippers in Nanaimo on Sunday, January 25th.
The 'Backs are 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games, 6-5-0-0 in January and 9-10-1-3 on the road. The Vees are 8-2-0-0 in their last 10, 7-2-0-0 in January and 17-2-1-0 on home ice.
Meanwhile, the Vees have won their last three games and haven't played since beating the Merritt Centennials 4-1 on Friday, January 23rd in Penticton.
The Vees have outscored the 'Backs 14-10 in the first five games, and Penticton has the second highest goals for in the BCHL with 180 in 45 games. The Vees have only allowed 89 goals, the fewest goals against. The Silverbacks have scored 148 goals in 45 games, the third lowest in the BCHL while the 'Backs have allowed 147 goals which is the sixth fewest.
Andrew Farny leads the Silverbacks in scoring with 14 goals and 32 assists in 45 games, and is the highest scoring defenseman in the BCHL, 25th overall. Taro Hirose of the 'Backs is ranked 30th with 16 goals and 28 assists in 45 games.
Lewis Zerter-Gossage leads the Vees with 17 goals and 24 assists in 44 games and is 39th overall.
Brendan Barry of the Vees is ranked number one among BCHL goaltenders. Barry is 10-1 in 12 games with 2 shutouts, a 1.93 goals against average and .913 save percentage. The Vees Hunter Miska is number two, 25-7-2 in 34 games with 4 shutouts, a 1.93 goals against average and .928 save percentage. While, the Silverbacks Angus Redmond is ranked eighth at 15-19-2 in 37 games with 3 shutouts, a 2.92 goals against average and .904 save percentage.
The Vees power-play is ranked fifth in the BCHL with 50 power-play goals and is 3-for-15 in the five games versus the 'Backs. The Silverbacks man-advantage is ranked 10th with 36 power-play goals and 4-for-11 against the Vees. Penticton's penalty-kill is 2nd in the BCHL and 7-for-11 in the season series, while the 'Backs PK is ranked 10th and 12-for-15 versus the Vees.
The Silverbacks are 19-18-3-5 with 46 points in 45 games and in fifth place in the Interior Division. The 'Backs are four points behind the West Kelowna Warriors with two games in hand on the Warriors. The Silverbacks are also four points behind the Merritt Centennials, but the Cents have a game in hand on the 'Backs.
The Centennials are in Vernon at 7 p.m. tonight.
The 'Backs have 12 regular season games remaining, with six on the road and six at home. Tonight is the Silverbacks fourth of five consecutive road games, the 'Backs will take on the Vipers in Vernon at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 30th before hosting the Vipers at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 31st at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks will finish the season series with the Vees at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th in Penticton.
