PREVIEW: Merritt @ Trail

Merritt: 30-17-2-6 (68pts) - 2nd in Interior (2pts up on Prince George, but PG has 1 game in hand)
LAST GAME: 2-1 OT loss to Penticton on Saturday (5 game points streak, with 9 of a possible 10 points gained)

Trail: 11-37-1-4 (27pts) - 8th(last) in Interior
LAST GAME: 5-4 loss in Westside on Saturday (8th straight loss)

Season Series: Merritt 2-2-1-0 (outscored Trail 19-14)

• pressure is more or less off after the Cents clinched a playoff spot with the OT point

• despite the Cents finally finding success vs Trail after struggling off the start (won their last 2 games by a combined score of 10-2), they still need to solve the Smokies at the Cominco Arena. In 2 appearances there so far, Merritt has tied a game 3-3 and lost 4-3

• Cents are coming off arguably their most emotional game of the season on Saturday and probably fired up to get ne last chance at the Vees tomorrow (Thursday), but having 3 days off in between Saturday's game and tonight could be beneficial, allowing the players a chance to wind down, relax and regroup

• the game vs Penticton was obviously exciting and showed lots of promise for what the Cents could do when they're at their best (and that was with an off period in the 2nd, just imagine a full 60), but it was also very frustrating considering the way it ended, how close the Cents were to ending "the streak" and the rivalry between the two teams. With that said, it will be interesting to see how the Cents respond tonight, if they're running around angry still, or able to stay loose and composed and stick to their game plan, waiting for their opportunities and pouncing like they did on Friday in Merritt

• Saturday was also the first time in 5 games that Merritt's offense was slowed down, after scoring 26 goals over their 4 prior games... hopefully the players don't get discouraged considering how well they still played and the opposition that night. The best case scenario is that the team will use that loss as a springboard to get that much better down the stretch heading into the playoffs

*Here's an ironic stat for you... of all the playoff teams, Merritt has the worst record in the last 10 games at 4-5-0-1, but coming into tonight, they might be the 2nd hottest team in the league next to, obviously, Penticton

• the key on Friday vs Trail was not to look ahead to Penticton the following night, and the Cents were able to focus quite well mentally... today they'll have the same goal obviously, with another chance at Penticton tomorrow, but they also have to be careful not to get cocky, even if it's subconscious, considering how easily they handles the Smokies at home on Friday. It's very unlikely that Trail will allow themselves to get run over at home

• I'm sure Saturday's game will still, at least somewhat, weigh on the minds of the players, thinking about what could have been and how close they came, and knowing they get another chance tomorrow, but making this long trip to Trail, despite first glance, might actually be beneficial in helping to focus their minds on tonight, and getting over Saturday

• obviously the importance of this game is in the standings, with Prince George knocking on the door (2 points back and a game in hand), but it's also important for the team to stay feeling good about themselves and continue this current 5 game points streak heading into tomorrow... they'll need as much confidence as possible vs the Vees, and they had that on Saturday, which is why they came so close. They also want the fans to keep feeling good about the team, and come out in full droves tomorrow night at home, for a normally poor draw on a Thursday

*This is the last building Merritt will play in during the regular season, with one more trip to the Cominco Arena next Friday (March 9th). They wrap up the regular season at home to Trail on March 10th, and then hopefully, if all goes according to plan, their next road game won't come until March 19th, game 3 of the first round playoffs, either in Prince George or Chilliwack. The 1st game of the playoffs will be Friday, March 16th, and the Cents are counting on that being in the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. They have by far the upper hand down the stretch with 3 games vs Trail, 1 vs Salmon Arm, and the Penticton game tomorrow, so 2nd place is theirs to lose

*I didn't get the lineups before we left on the trip this morning, but head coach Luke Pierce indicated to me that the scratch will be a game-time decision and that Tyler Steel will get his 2nd consecutive start between the pipes, even though he hinted that it would be Lino on Saturday

Face-off tonight is at 7:30pm from the Cominco Arena in Trail. Our pre-game show gets underway at 7pm on Q101 FM in Merritt. You can also tune in online at Q101.ca or on the BCHL fanzone through bchl.ca