PREVIEW: North Vancouver Wolf Pack vs. Richmond Sockeyes (Game #16)

Tonight at Minoru Arena, the North Vancouver Wolf Pack look to start their week off with a win and extend their winning streak to ten games when they travel across town to take on the Richmond Sockeyes. Tonight marks the third meeting between these two clubs as the Pack won the first meeting 4-2 while the Sockeyes blanked the Wolf Pack 4-0 in the second meeting. Matt Samson’s crew would love to start their three game week off on a winning note when the puck drops tonight in Richmond at 7:00 PM.

 

Richmond Sockeyes

OVERVIEW

Head Coach: Bayne Koen

Record: 11-6-0-0

Home Record: 5-3-0-0

Last Game: A 7-2 victory in Abbotsford against the Pilots on Friday, October 29.

Goals For/Goals Against: 69GF / 50GA (+19)

Power Play: 30/69 (43.48%)

Penalty Kill: 12/64 (81.25%)

Leading Scorers: Garrett Wicks (17GP – 15G – 14A – 29PTS), Matthew Stewart (10GP – 5G – 10A – 15PTS), Gabriel Parent (15GP – 7G – 8A – 15PTS)

 

Garrett is ‘Wick’ed 

To say that Garett Wicks, a native of Delta, BC is on fire this season is a bit of an understatement. In 17 regular season games, the 2001 born forward has 15 goals and 14 assists for a total of 29 points. Wicks leads his team in points, sits third in the league in points, and is a big reason why the Sockeyes Power Play has been fantastic this season as a third of the goals he has scored has been on the man advantage. Currently averaging 1.71 points a game the Pack will need to keep their eye on this Sockeyes star.

 

Playing With Power

Arguably the strongest and biggest part of this Sockeyes team is their Power Play. It’s a Power Play that is clicking at 43.48% which is a league best and a stat that is big enough to put fear into any opposing team. This is a team with a lot of fire power so the fact that the team can score with the man advantage isn’t surprising, but the fact that the Power Play is clicking at such a high rate at this point of the season is. It goes without saying, but if the Wolf Pack plan on winning against this team they will need to keep the Sockeyes Power Play off of the ice.  

 

NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK

OVERVIEW

Head Coach: Matt Samson

Record: 13-1-0-1

Road Record: 8-0-0-0

Last Game: A 3-0 home victory over the White Rock Whalers on Saturday, October 30.

Goals For/Goals Against: 68GF / 27GA (+41)

Power Play: 15/65 (23.08%)

Penalty Kill: 5/51 (90.2%)

Leading Scorers: JJ Pickell (15GP – 15G – 9A – 24PTS), David Coyle (14GP – 12G – 11A – 23PTS), Ryan Hunter (15GP – 3G – 14A – 17PTS)

 

Our H’ero’

Posting a 1.46GAA, 0.948 SV%, and 2 shutouts, Wolf Pack goaltender Damian Perovic has been lights out for his team this season and a real hero. Perovic has suited up for six games this season and has won all six of those games. The native of Surrey, BC has had a terrific start to the season and is certainly a big reason why the Pack have been able to remain at the top of the PJHL standings and near the top of the points chart against teams from the PJHL, VIJHL, and KIJHL. Perovic may have broken his stick at practice on Tuesday, but that shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to how he will perform against the Sockeys tonight if he ends up in the crease.

 

Hunting Early

The Pack have won their last nine games. In eight of those nine games they have scored the first goal of the game. Scoring the first goal is always important, but it has greatly benefited the Pack this season and if they can get the lead in the game tonight then they are in a great spot to win the hockey game.

 

COMPARISON:

North Van Wolf Pack Richmond Sockeyes
Season Record 13-1-0-1 11-6-0-0
Last 10 Games 9-1-0-0 7-3-0-0
Streak 9-0-0-0 2-0-0-0
Last Game 0-3 W vs White Rock (2021-10-30) 7-2 W @ Abbotsford (2021-10-29)
Home Record 5-1-0-1 5-3-0-0
Away Record 8-0-0-0 6-3-0-0
Goals For 68 69
Goals Against 27 50
Power Plays 15/65 (23.08%) 30/69 (43.48%)
Power Plays (Home) 5/25 (20%) 15/34 (44.12%)
Power Plays (Away) 10/40 (25%) 15/35 (42.86%)
Penalty Killing 5/51 (90.2%) 12/64 (81.25%)
Penalty Killing (Home) 1/28 (96.43%) 6/26 (76.92%)
Penalty Killing (Away) 4/23 (82.61%) 6/38 (84.21%)

 

Both of these teams have winning records, have winning streaks, and are the top two teams in the Tom Shaw Conference, but the Pack are also first in the entire league as they have more wins than the Sockeyes. The Pack remains undefeated on the road and have a better Power Play percentage on the road too. The Sockeyes are not undefeated at home, but do have an outstanding Power Play percentage, as well. Tonight will bring an end to a winning streak for one of these two team’s as the Wolf Pack have won 9 straight while the Sockeyes have won 2 in a row. The puck drops tonight in Richmond at 7:00 PM.