Down 3-1 in their BCHL playoff series against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, the Penticton Vees coach is looking forward to playing in the friendly confines of the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“Saturday night at home, what else do you want?” said Fred Harbinson, Vees head coach, general manager and president.
A packed rink to help sway things their way and help get the puck in the net is also on the Vees wish list.
“It is one of the biggest issues we have had, not scoring. It hasn’t just been this series. Since February on, our goal scoring has dried up a little bit. We are getting the chances but just not capitalizing on them. We make a great play but we are not finishing on it for whatever reason. But we can’t dwell on that now,” said Harbinson.
Over the five games so far, the Vees have produced seven goals—their biggest point producing night was in fact at the SOEC last Saturday, a 4-1 win. On Wednesday, the Capitals kept the Vees off the scoreboard with a 3-0 win. It was the first time this season the Vees have been shutout.
“Cowichan is playing a tough series and are playing well. We haven’t been fortunate and haven’t had some of the breaks and some tough bounces. In Game 3 we lost a stick in overtime and Cowichan charges back and gets the game winner … we need to find a way to win and if we do that we put a lot of pressure back on them. We can’t sit and sulk. As coaches, we need to get the guys emotionally ready to go to execute our plan. Hopefully, they will be ready to do that,” said Harbinson.
The Vees are in a must-win situation in the best-of-seven series and puck drop is at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the SOEC.
If they win, they will head to Cowichan Valley on March 11 and, if necessary, Game 7 will be at the SOEC on March 13 at 7 p.m.
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