Game: Merritt Centennials vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 6:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:00pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition: 0-0-1-0
Last Meeting: Teams tied 1-1 (November 30th, 2013)
Kings 2013/2014 Record: 32-14-2-4 (1st Island)
Kings at home: 19-5-1-0
Kings Last 10: 3-5-0-2
Kings vs Interior: 6-4-1-1
Opposition 2013/2014 Record: 26-20-4-1 (4th Interior)
Opposition on the road: 11-14-0-0
Opposition Last 10: 6-3-1-0
Call it a slump, call it a skid, call it whatever you want, the Kings have just 1 point from their last 4 games and have been outscored 18-11. They’re 3-5-0-2 in their last 10 games and outside of the Trail Smoke Eaters (9 win season) and Chilliwack Chiefs (12 wins), they’re the 3rd “coolest” team in the BCHL. The Kings need to get back to basics, and where better to do that than on home ice for the next 4 games.
The Kings will no doubt look to get back to what has made them a successful club over the last 5 years in particular. A defensively sound and responsible hockey club that grinds out 2-1 and 3-2 victories, and doesn’t get caught in the 5-3, 6-4 type hockey games that some teams try to generate. Our keys to the game on Sunday remain in place for tonight….hit hard, win the draws, generate shots and get solid goaltending.
The Kings will go into tonight’s game with a slightly changed lineup that got shut out 4-0 to the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Luke Nogard returns but JJ Coleshaw is out and will join Matt Scarth on the other side of the glass with injuries. That means 11 forwards and 7 defenceman for the Kings again tonight…that’s for the 3rd straight game. Jonah Imoo (who came in relief of Jeff Smith on Wednesday and played well) gets the start. It’ll be his first time seeing the Centennials this season.
Seems like all the Kings opponents these days are in some sort of a fight for a playoff race. Alberni, Cowichan and now Merritt. The Cents currently hold down 4th in the Interior Division, a point up from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and 5 back (with a game in hand) on Vernon. A good weekend for the Cents on the road would go a long way to locking down the 4th spot, and even putting a bit of pressure on Vernon in 3rd.
The Cents are a balanced club. They have 11 players over 20 points in scoring (the Kings have 9), including former King James Neil who will play against his former club for the first time. Neil missed the opening leg of the season series due to an injury just before the Kings rolled through town. He has 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 games this season. Other names to watch for tonight, Diego Cuglietta and Sebastian Pare…two players who are dangerous offensively and Pare especially seems to be noticeable in games against the Kings, dating back to his time with Langley.
The Cents were last in action on Tuesday, falling to West Kelowna. It’ll be former Nanaimo Clippers Jarrod Schamerhorn in net for the Cents with an injured Devin Kero on the sidelines.
