- Credit James D’Andrea for the effort he turned in on Thursday night. One will look at the boxscore, not think twice and see him picking up his 13th loss-not so. D’Andrea was fully deserving of the first star tonight, regardless of how many did go by him. Looking back at the four Vees goals I can’t single out one he should or would of stopped. It isn’t easy being a goalie, especially on a team that has seen it’s struggles like Trail has but D’Andrea showed up to play tonight and almost stole one.
Katunar stood tall
- His counterpart, Chad Katunar was no slouch either tonight. In the same token some eyebrows might have been raised with him getting a second star with only 19 shots against. Don’t be fooled, Katunar made some quality saves and some crucial ones throughoout the game. Two come to mind off the top of my head, one the breakaway save on Garrett McMullen in the second period and the pad stop on Tanner Clarkson in the third; Clarkson, if he scored would of been the go ahead goal. Katunar is becoming a more confident goaltender and it shows on the ice. Would he of like Clayton McEwan’s late tally back? Sure. However, he is young and developing and those mistakes will be minimized.
- Wade Murphy extended his point streak to 11 games and has points in all but one game as a member of the Penticton Vees; good acquisition.
- The power-play was held off the scoresheet for the second straight game and third in four games. I think the issue isn’t just the Vees are not executing, it goes deeper then that. For one, Penticton’s opportunities have been drastically reduced in the last handful of games. In three of their last five the Vees have only received more than two power-play opportunities twice.
- Staying with the power-play it looked more threatening tonight then I thought it did last weekend versus Vernon and Salmon Arm. In the same token, it still isn’t where it has been. Tonight there were a few instances when, again, the Vees were guilty of trying to make one more pass for the perfect play. Penticton will need to simply keep it simple going into the weekend. Players also have to be more selfish, take the puck and attack the net; take the shot and don’t think twice.
- Tonight’s second period was quite possibly one of the hardest the Vees had this year. For what every reason, the team struggled with their skating and play with the puck. Some players looked disinterested and lazy at times. It was something that I haven’t seen from this team for months. Credit the group for pulling it together for the third period but the second will have them reaching for the delete button.
- I like what I saw from the Smoke Eaters: a hard working, never quit attitude was quite evident throughout the game. They’re not going to dazzle you with skill and finesse but will bother you with a workmen like effort. Trail was playing the quintessential road game: chipping pucks in deep and pressing hard on the fore-check. That hard work and sheer determination almost broke the streak tonight.
- Twice in three games the Vees won the game in the third period. This team sure knows how to turn it on, so to speak, when it counts.
