PREVIEW: Salmon Arm @ Merritt

Merritt: 31-18-2-6 (70pts) - 2nd in Interior (tied w/ PG but have 1 game in hand)
LAST GAME: 5-3 loss to Penticton on Thursday (3pts, but no regulation wins last 3 games)

Salmon Arm: 16-33-0-8 (40pts) - 7th in Interior
LAST GAME: 4-3 loss to Penticton on Sunday (5th straight loss, included 1 OT loss)
*Silverbacks have given up 4 goals in each of their 5 games during the skid

Season Series: Merritt 5-1 vs Salmon Arm (outscored the Silverbacks 26-20)

• home stretch is finally here, Cents kick it off tonight with 1st of 3 games in 5 days (in Trail on Friday, back home vs Trail on Saturday)

• memories of the last 2 "close calls" vs Penticton are hard to forget, but 4 days have passed since the last one, so hopefully the team is mentally focused and have had time to forget about the Vees and not think about them unless they get to the 2nd round. It's now time to "focus", and that's the biggest key for the final 3 games, which should be all wins, but nothing comes without effort, nothing just falls in your lap. That's the attitude this team needs to have

• the team's goal before the season of getting home ice advantage (which was supposed to be 4th, but turned into 2nd with the new playoff format) could be just 1 win away from being realized, after PG just lost in Vernon, and finish the season with 2 games against Penticton (who have now won 40 games in a row)

• the Cents need to be, and I'm sure are determined to sweep the final 3 games, which would allow them to hit the playoffs in full speed and on a roll. And come playoff time, the team that's usually "hot" coming in is the team that goes a long way, or at least wins the 1st round

• this is an important time, and will be an important game for Lino Chimienti, who gets his 2nd start in a row. As the 20 year old, Head Coach Luke Pierce hinted that Lino will get every chance to get the job come playoff time, but he will still have to win that job, so regardless of whether or not Merritt wins tonight, it's important for Lino to have a strong, consistent game, coming off an up and down game vs Penticton

• the Backs are dead last (16th) on both the power play and the penalty kill, so this is a definite area to exploit for Merritt. That doesn't mean they should tempt fate by playing a "goon-style" game and getting undisciplined, but their power play could really make a difference. And they need a boost, as their power play is 0 for their last 6 in 2 games, and 1 for their last 11 in 3 games

• unlike what happened in Trail last Wednesday, the Centennials need to respect their opponent from the opening faceoff, despite the standings

• however, considering the standings, this would be a great time for the 4th line to really hit their stride and all 4 lines to contribute. It's all about getting their confidence sky-high as they enter the playoffs Friday of next week, likely vs the Prince George Spruce Kings, and possibly vs the Chilliwack Chiefs

• Salmon Arm still has a few weapons left to watch out for, most notably the duo of Morgan Zulinick and Devin Muller, who are well over a point a game, but also wild-card Myles McCauley, who is 20 years old and is very streaky... there are some games where he dominates and plays like the best player on the ice, so those 3 really have to be keyed on tonight

• despite no playoffs in the fold, the Apes still have plenty to play for, especially 18-year-old goalie Adam Clark, who is scheduled to get the start tonight. Kurt Williams is now 20, so this is the end for him, but Adam Clark is playing for a chance to be "the guy" next year, so he's got plenty of motivation tonight. If Kurt Williams ends up playing, obviously this is his BCHL swan song, so he'll be motivated to finish as strong as he can. 

• Also on the line are possible scholarships and spots on the roster for everyone else. Not to mention "pride". It might be hard to imagine the Silverbacks have pride with 16 wins entering the final week of the regular season, but the last 2 games have proven that. Salmon Arm went up 2-0 on Penticton in the last game and lost a tight, but respectable 4-3 game vs the best team in BCHL history. Before that, they fought back from a 3-0 3rd period deficit in Chilliwack to tie the game at 3, only to lose 4-3 in overtime. But they certainly showed heart and guts the last 2 games, proving that they're still in it to win it

• the bottom line is, Salmon Arm won't roll over tonight, and Merritt needs to realize that, and not take them for granted

*The Cents have a few injury issues to deal with, as defensemen Dylan Chanter and Tyler Martin are both nursing some bumps and bruises. Chanter's injury might be a nagging one that he suffered from a slash to his leg a couple of weeks ago, but Martin's injury is unknown at this time. Additionally, Brent Fletcher has been automatically suspended for 2 games after his hit to the head "major" on Wade Murphy and game misconduct in the last game vs Penticton. As a result, the team will have just 5 defensemen tonight, and 18-year-old forward Scotty Patterson will play his 5th game with Merritt, joining the 4th line with Schaefer and Lamont, while Brayden Low moves up to the 2nd line to take Fletcher's spot, centering Silvan Harper and Jakob Reichert. Patterson has no points as an AP with Merritt, but registered 46 points in 44 games with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the KIJHL in the regular season, before contributing 4 goals and 7 points in 6 playoff games (the Coyotes were upset in 6 games by the Kelowna Chiefs, so Patterson's KIJHL season is over)

*The Silverbacks are also a little short of bodies, and their injury to defenseman Braden Pears has forced them to call up 94-born (recently turned 18) forward Bryden Marsh, who had 26 points in 38 games with the Golden Rockets of the KIJHL in the regular season, and contributed 2 assists in 4 games in the playoffs (Golden got swept by Fernie in the 1st round)

Opening face-off tonight is at 7pm from the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Our pre-game show gets going at 6:30pm on Q101 FM in Merritt. You can also tune in online at Q101.ca or on the BCHL fanzone through BCHL.ca

Here are the lineups for both teams tonight:

MERRITT:

Regan Soquila (93)             Chad Brears (91)           Evan Stack (9)
               
Silvan Harper (92)               Brayden Low (94)          Jakob Reichert (93)
               
Carter Shinkaruk (91)          Brandon Bruce (93)        Sean Maktaak (92) 
               
Scotty Patterson (93) AP     Payton Schaefer (93)     Brendan Lamont (94)


                           Reece Willcox (94)        Brandon Pfeil (92)
       
                         Richard Sabourin (92)     Ross Mancuso (92)

                            Billy Marshall (91)       

       
                                                    Lino Chimienti (91)       
               
                                                      Tyler Steel (93)      

SCRATCHES

Brent Fletcher (92) - SUS
Dylan Chanter (95) - INJ
Tyler Martin (93) - INJ


SALMON ARM:

Jeff Kennedy (94)       Stefan Nicholishen (93)      Myles McCauley (91)
              
Devin Muller (92)        Garret Hendrickson (92)    Travis Stephens (93)
              
Alex Gillies (95)          Morgan Zulinick (94)          James Friedel (91)
              
Graham McBain (93)      Mak Barden (93)            Bryden Marsh (94)


              Sean Flanagan (92)            Bennett Hambrook (92)
  
                Mike Berry (93)                Brendan Kennedy (94)

               Shane Hanna (94)                  Taylor Love (92)

               
                                       Adam Clark (93)       
      
                                      Kurt Williams (91)       

SCRATCHES:

Braden Pears (93) - INJ