GAME PREVIEW: CLIPPERS at KINGS

AT

RECORDS: NAN- 18-17-1-3 PR- 28-5-3-2

ROAD < > HOME: NAN: 6-9-0-2 PR: 16-3-0-1

STREAK: NAN: 1 Loss PR: 8 wins

BIG STORY: The Kings meet the Clippers for the sixth and final time this season. The Kings have yet to beat the Clippers at home losing 4-3 and most recently 6-3 on November 23rd. The season series is dead even at 2-2-1-0.

CLIPPERS: Nanaimo is in the midst of a road odyssey,  including  the Christmas break their trip spans over 16 days. The Clippers only won one of their four games on their interior swing before the Christmas break. The Clippers surrendered five or more goals in three of the four games.

This month Nanaimo has been up and down, sporting a 4-5 record in December. Of note the boatmen dropped three in a row and most recently three of their last five. The Clippers have been dogged by bad starts and a faltering penalty-kill.

In their three losses on their interior road trip Nanaimo gave up leads early.  Penticton, Salmon Arm and Westside scored two or more goals in the first period against the Clippers. Salmon Arm scored four in the opening period and Penticton was up three early as well. Also Nanaimo was hampered by their penalty-kill.  Combined, Penticton, Salmon Arm and Westside were six for ten on the power-play. Including the Vees going three for seven and the Warriors and 'Backs being perfect on their chances.

For Nanaimo to be successful tonight they will need to be sharp right from the get go.

KINGS: Powell River is playing some of their best hockey of late. The Kings are riding an eight game winning streak that dates back to November 23rd, which so happens to be the last time they lost to Nanaimo. You could assume that humbling loss at home served as some motivation.

The Kings have been in the festive spirit as well, having not lost in December (6-0 ) including shutouts over Coquitlam and Langley. Also a major reason for the success of late is the Kings turn around on the power-play.

The only negative this season has been the teams struggles with the man advantage. The Kings still only have the 13th best power-play but have made strides lately. In their last five games the Kings are 6 for 26, which works out to about 23 percent. That pace would be good enough for a top six power-play in the BCHL.

WHO'S HOT: Carter Shinkaruk and Teagan Waugh are proving the Kings can hurt you with more then just one line. Shinkaruk is riding a five game assist streak and Waugh has scored in five of his last six games. Matt Garbowsky has five goals in his last five games, three of which came against the Grizzlies December 19th. Andrew Gladiuk has scored in two straight for Nanaimo and has points in his last three games.

INJURY REPORT: The Christmas break has done some good for the Kings injury situation. Cohen Adair, Andrew Pettitt and Justin Bardarson are healthy and back in the line-up. That means Only Breden Forbes (Suspension) is out for the Kings. You could say with all their injury woes this season, the line-up Nanaimo ices tonight is the closest thing they have to a full line-up. Tristan Lowenberger, Kiefer McNaughton, Brett Hartskamp and Todd Gebert are out for Nanaimo. Back is Brayden Jaw and Mike Dopko.

STAT PACK:  The Kings are an impressive 22-1-3-1 when the score the first goal of the hockey game. In Nanaimo's last five games, they have surrendered the first goal three times.

PUCK DROP:  Note the start time tonight is 7pm which means a 6:45pm pre-game show on 95-7 SUN FM. This is Powell River's first game in nine days and last in 2010.Nanaimo is playing their  first game  in ten days.