PENTICTON LEADS SERIES 3-1
It's Monday. It's no longer Saturday. It's not just a new day, but a full day has passed in between since all the controversy of game 4 in Merritt. I'm sure the storyline of the last game will continue to get discussed by fans even into game 5 tonight in Penticton, but it has to be "out of sight, out of mind" when it comes to the Centennials themselves. Looking back at the replays of the 2 goals in questions, it was evident that Benik's shot did in fact go in, while the high-sticking call is still undecided, despite plenty of zooming and slowing down. But it really doesn't matter anymore. Every player and both coaches need to turn the page and not look back.
Game 5 tonight for Merritt is all about the mental approach. It's a heck of a lot easier said than done, I understand, but they truly do need to reset their minds and focus on the task at hand, and not on what could have been over the past couple of games. After all, they easily could have been up 3-1, or at least tied 2-2 right now, but that can't be where their mind wanders tonight. The mind can't wander, period.
Here's the reality: the Centennials now have to beat Penticton 3 games in a row, including 2 at the SOEC (where the Vees only lost once in the regular season/twice in the playoffs, only once in regulation time). Everybody knew the importance of game 4 and how dire the situation would be if Merritt lost, but now that the situation is what it is, there's no time to feel sorry for yourselves if you're the Centennials. Instead they could use the events of game 3 and 4 as a rallying point, and focus on the fact that they've gotten better with each game in this series. They just gotta keep that going tonight and start a memorable streak that the players can reflect back on for the rest of their lives.
Now that the Cents are 1 loss away from having their season end, there's obviously no more room for error, and pretty much everything will have to go right tonight, tomorrow and Thursday for the Centennials to keep their season going and advance to the Fred Page Cup finals. At this stage, they can't rely on anything or anyone else but themselves. Don't count on the refs, don't count on the "bounces", don't count on luck, and don't count on justice if you think you got robbed in game 4. Don't leave anything to chance.
It's time to break out the cliches. Every player has to look in the mirror and find the motivation to have the game of their lives tonight. And just tonight. Yes, you can't look at the overall task at hand, but just focus on "what can I do to make sure we win game 5 tonight?" And then copy and paste that mentality if you're fortunate enough to prolong this series into tomorrow.
One thing Merritt will definitely need to figure out tonight is their power play. It doesn't matter how "dangerous" it has looked in the past or how many chances they've gotten (even though it hasn't been many), it's not the regular season. There's no time for baby steps. It has to be "produce now or season's over". The last 2 games could have easily gone Merritt's way if their power play had broken through. They went 0 for 3 in both games, and they were missed opportunities are crucial times. In game 3, after tying the game at 2, they got a power play immediately after with Logan Johnston in the box. But they fail to score, lose momentum, and Johnston comes out of the box and scores what winds up being the game winner. Game 4, even after the disallowed goal, Merritt had a long 5 on 3 during which they looked lost, but could have taken the lead. And after Benik tied it, the power play again got a chance to win the game in regulation, but let them down. Merritt hasn't had many power plays in this series (3 in each game), but they've gone a combined 1 for 12 (8.3%) and let crucial opportunities slide in the past 2 games. Tonight, the power play must break through and make a difference.
The other must for Merritt tonight will be to score 1st. With the disallowed 1st period goal in game 4, they've given up the 1st goal in each game in this series, and when you're playing Penticton, that's a much more steep hill to climb than against any other team. They're virtually unbeatable when scoring first. And tonight, Merritt needs a ray of light, a sign of hope, and that 1st goal would go a long ways. If they surrender the 1st goal again, that mental hurdle/momentum might be an impossible thing to overcome. The Centennials might get dejected, and the Vees will likely show no mercy, sense that vulnerability and go for the kill, which might make it a long night. The 1st goal has never been as important as it is tonight.
Then there's the goaltending. Who will start might be a mystery until we get to the rink, but both guys have done everything they can in this series, and can't be blamed one bit. My gut says Lino Chimienti will start. He was a very deserving 1st start in game 4, and his Junior A career is on the line. I'm sure he wants the opportunity to impact his own fate, and I believe Luke Pierce will allow him that opportunity. But only time will tell. However, Chimienti, if he does start, will need a repeat 1st start performance, especially in Penticton where the Vees tend to pepper goalies at will and force them to steal the game if the opposition is to take 2 points. Only Tyler Steel and Mitch Gillam have managed to do that in the regular season and/or playoffs. That 1st start performance will likely need to carry over into game 6 and 7 as well if the Centennials are to keep playing past this week. But at the same time, the Centennials have to maintain a strict commitment to team defense, much like the Vees do around Katunar. The 1st overtime of the last game was a great example, where guys were sacrificing every part of their body to block shots and get pucks out of their zone.
The Centennials deserve credit where credit is due, and they have done a great job in terms of team discipline after game 1. The first game they gave Penticton 7 power plays, but only 5 in the last 3 games combined. And the PK has been a perfect 4 for 4 over the last 2 games. The penalty kill will very likely need to be perfect tonight again, and limiting the Vees to just 2 or 3 power plays at most will definitely help that cause.
Offensively, the Centennials can still do more to make Chad Katunar's life difficult. He has come up clutch in back to back games, but there's still a vulnerability there that Merritt needs to expose and take advantage of. The Vees have done a great job around Katunar by clearing almost each and every rebound, so the Centennials need to find a way to penetrate this bubble around the Vees backup. They need to find a way to make life as difficult for Katunar as the Vees are making it for Steel and Chimienti. The 2 Merritt netminders are being forced to steal games, but Katunar is allowed to just be "good" but not great, and he still wins. That says a lot.
Here's the truth of the situation. After the way that Merritt lost games 3 and 4, all the emotion and disappointment, in a situation where they have to win 3 in a row, nobody out there will give them a hope in the world. But then again, nobody gave them any hope to make the playoffs, and nobody believed they could sweep the Prince George Spruce Kings either. The Centennials have proven themselves to others all season, and now it's time to do that again. Even if nobody else believes in them, they have to believe in themselves. Each and every player needs to honestly believe deep down in their heart that they not only can but will win tonight, and continue to win tomorrow and Thursday. If there are any doubters on the team, it will show on the ice, and it won't happen.
Finally, watch out for 7 players tonight and possibly over the next 3 games. 5 graduates (Stack, Brears, Shinkaruk, Marshall, Chimienti) and 2 guys with scholarships for next year (Willcox and Pfeil) will all hopefully realize that tonight might be their last game in Junior A hockey. This is one thing they should think about, so they can do everything in their power to make sure tonight is not their last game. Anything at all that will help motivate to go that extra mile. Watch for those 7 aforementioned players to make a difference tonight. This is the time for them to lead the way. Win or lose, they have to be the best players on the ice.
Opening face-off tonight is at 7:00pm from the South Okanagan Events Centre. Q101 pre-game show starts at 6:30pm. You can also tune in online at Q101.ca or on the BCHL fanzone through BCHL.ca
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