Warriors @ MERRITT - November 7th Game Preview

The West Kelowna Warriors have won 4 straight games dating back to the Sunday of their island road trip, and have points in their last 6 games. The biggest win of that stretch came on Wednesday night, ending the Vees 13 game winning streak by beating Penticton 3-2 at the SOEC.

Great Save DESAUTELS - Andy Desautels has been strong in the Warriors net of late after not dressing during the island road trip. In the last 3 games, Dezzy as he's known around his teammates, has allowed 8 goals in the last 190:25, for a GAA of 2.52. He has a Sv % of .901 in that span as well.

Red Hot Blackburn - Liam Blackburn had his 7 game point streak snapped on Wednesday as the Vees shut him down, but he had his opportunities. Liam has only been held scoreless in 2 games this season, both by Penticton, but his 33 points still leads the BCHL.

The French Connection - Sure its not Perrault, Martin, and Robert - or the Buffalo Sabres from 1972-1979, but Jonathan Desbiens and Michael Buonincontri have been red-hot in the last 6 games. Desbiens was honored with a BCHL Player of the Week Honor after the island swing. These two, albeit on separate lines, have combined for 14 points in those 6 games, each scoring 4 times including a hat-trick. Desbiens has been the clutch player as well, with 2 GWG, and 1 GWA (Game-Winning Assist).


TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES:

Merritt – 9-8-0-0 4th in Interior Division (18 Pts) HOME – 7-1-0-0  ROAD – 2-7-0-0  Top Scorer Gavin Gould (6 G, 13 A) GF – 57 GA – 56 PP – 12th – 20% (18 for 90) PK – 12th – 76.7% (66 for 86)

West Kelowna – 10-5-0-2 2nd in Interior Division (22 Pts) HOME – 3-4-0-0 ROAD – 7-1-0-2 Top Scorer Liam Blackburn (9 G, 24 A) Leads BCHL in Points and Assists GF – 67 GA – 64 PP – 3rd – 25.3% (23 for 91) PK – 7th – 79.2% (57 for 72) Next Game –Nov 9th vs Prince George – 2:30 PM – Royal Lepage Place

Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 40-12-1-2 2013/2014 Head to Head – West Kelowna wins 7-0-0-1 This Season Head to Head October 4th – Merritt defeats West Kelowna 2-1 -      A late 2nd period goal shorthanded from Jake Clifford was the back-breaking goal against the Warriors with less than 1 second left on the clock. Anthony Pupplo stopped all 9 shots he faced in the 3rd period to hold on for the victory. Jonathan Desbiens had the lone goal for the Warriors, on the power-play in the 1st. October 17th - Merritt defeats West Kelowna 5-4 in Overtime -  The Warriors tied it up late in the 3rd period thanks to Michael Buonincontri's 2nd of the night, but Merritt would get a power-play in OT and would capitalize, as Shane Poulsen buried the puck past Scott Patton. Kristian Blumenschein and Hunter Zandee had the other Warrior goals