PREVIEW: Merritt @ Trail

Merritt: 32-18-2-6 (72pts) - 2nd in Interior (2pts up on PG, both teams have 2 games left)
LAST GAME: 5-2 win over Salmon Arm on Tuesday

Trail: 11-39-1-6 (29pts) - 8th/last in Interior
LAST GAME: 10-0 loss in Penticton on Tuesday (12th loss in a row, 2 in OT)

Season Series: Merritt 3-2-1-0 (outscored Trail 23-17)

• after some frustrating times over the last 3 games, with 2 devastating losses to Penticton and a come-from-behind victory in Trail last Wednesday, the team is feeling good about themselves after a near flawless game vs Salmon Arm on Tuesday, where all 3 lines contributed, and Evan Stack picked up the team's first hat-trick of the season

• backing up my point of the team feeling good about themselves, after that frustrating 6 game losing slide where they scored just 5 goals, I can officially say that EVERYONE on the top 3 lines is on a roll of late. Here are the stats to back it up: Evan Stack- 13pts last 9 games / Chad Brears- 15pts last 10 games / Regan Soquila- 11pts last 8 games / Brandon Bruce- 11pts (7 goals) last 8 games / Silvan Harper- 6pts last 7 games / Jakob Reichert- 7pts last 7 games / Carter Shinkaruk- 6pts last 8 games / Sean Maktaak- 6pts last 8 games / Brent Fletcher- had 5pts in 4 games before a mini 3-game drought... and it's not just the forwards. Check out these defensemen on a role: Brandon Pfeil- 6pts last 6 games / Billy Marshall- 6pts last 7 games / Richard Sabourin- 5 assists in a 4 game point streak

• the only guys that are still really anxious to contribute are the ones on the 4th line. Despite plenty of hustle, they're not getting rewarded. Payton Schaefer is riding a 20 game pointless drought, Brayden Low (who is currently on the 2nd line in the absence of Fletcher) has just 1 point (assist) over his last 17 games, while Brendan Lamont has only 1 point (goal) over his last 13 games. The good news is, these guys (including Scotty Patterson who's filling in on the 4th line as an AP) are playing the right way and doing all the right things, and at least for now, they're under no pressure to score. But this back to back matchup vs the last place Smoke-Eaters might be a great opportunity for the 4th line to generate some more confidence come playoff time

• after a superb season with 10 more wins at this point than all of last season, the Centennials have a chance to clinch 2nd place and home ice advantage with a win in this game, and a Penticton win in Prince George (both likely scenarios). So if all goes according to plan, tomorrow night's rematch could be just a "practice" game, and could allow coach Luke Pierce to rest some tired/beat up bodies

• considering that Merritt would have to lose at least once vs Trail, and Prince George would have to beat Penticton in both games (and in Chilliwack's case, they'd have to sweep 3 games and need Merritt to lose both) for Merritt to fall out of 2nd, the likelihood is that Merritt has the home ice advantage they were seeking at the start of the season, and they'll look to just maintain good habits on this final weekend, tying up any "loose ends" they might have before starting the playoffs in exactly 1 week

• as for Trail, they have 3 games left in their season, all over this weekend, so they will be desperate to finish their season the right way and on a high note. This is aso their last home game of the season, so they will definitely want to reward their loyal fans that have stuck with them through a rough ride in 2011/2012 

• The Smokies will also be very eager to snap a disappointing 12 game losing slide and try and play spoiler to Merritt's goal of 2nd place... all to make it a little easier to digest the overall season as the players make their way back home next week

*Coach Luke Pierce will have something else on his mind in this game, as his wife just gave birth to their new baby on Wednesday night

*After much speculation as to whether or not he would travel with the team, the suspended Brent Fletcher (who is serving his 2nd game of a 2 game suspension) is set to join me in the broadcast booth as the colour commentator, so this will add a little excitement on the broadcast side to a game that otherwise doesn't have a lot of buzz surrounding it

*As far as lineups are concerned, I wasn't able to get them ahead of our departure time Friday morning, but I know that Brent Fletcher will be in the broadcast booth with me, and Dylan Chanter and Tyler Martin are not expected to make the trip, and not expected to play this weekend before the playoffs. That means 18-year-old forward Scotty Patterson (called up from the Osoyoos Coyotes after the defending champs were eliminated from the KIJHL playoffs by Kelowna) will likely play his 6th game with the big club. And according to previous plans, Tyler Steel will likely start his last regular season game, before Lino wraps it up at home on Saturday. So this might be a very important game for Tyler to determine whether or not he's the guy, or at least gets game 1 of the playoffs come next Friday!

Opening face-off from the Cominco Arena in Trail is set for 7:30pm. Our pre-game show gets going at 7pm on Q101 FM in Merritt. You can also tune in online at Q101.ca or on the BCHL fanzone through BCHL.ca