Today’s Gameday Preview: Sunday February 10th , 2019

DUBNetwork Feature Game of the day: Wheat Kings @ Blades 4 PM PST

The Brandon Wheat Kings head on the road to Saskatoon today to play their division rival, Saskatoon Blades in their fifth meeting of the season. The Blades lead the season series by a 3-1 count prior to puck drop, the last meeting between the teams coming on February 5th in a 7-3 Blades win.

The Brandon Wheat Kings (23-21-3-4) come into play six points back of a Wild Card berth into the WHL playoffs. The Wheat Kings playoff hopes are still very much realistic, as they’re keeping up with the pace in the east playing into a 6-3-0-1 record in their last ten. Their last five games have two of those losses, and neither of them were pretty. The Wheaties should come out with something to prove, trying to redeem themselves after being smacked 7-3 on Tuesday.

Stelio Mattheos (Bryan Heim)

If Brandon has any hopes of getting their revenge tonight, their top guns will have to be going. The Wheat Kings leading scorer Stelio Mattheos only has points in two of his last four games. Something that might not seem alarming to the naked eye, but considering Mattheos carries a big load on the Wheat Kings team, it would be incredibly tough to garner a ‘W’ against the Blades without some offense from the star studded forward.

The Saskatoon Blades (33-13-8-0) are riding the wave of a three game winning streak and have earned themselves a 3-1 season series lead against the Wheat Kings, which tells you they know how to win against the Wheaties. Holding a 7-1-2-0 record in their last ten games, you can imagine the Blades are still holding steady in the playoff picture sitting in second place in the Eastern Division.

Allen Douglas Photo

Last time these teams met, Kirby Dach’s play was not slacking. Dach scored a hat-trick, his second this season. The highly rated NHL prospect will look to draw back into the scoring column tonight as he did not earn a point in Saskatoon’s last game on Hockey Day in Canada in Swift Current.

Expected in goal:

  • Nolan Meier (SAS) 2.675 GAA, .910 SV%- Meier has not lost a start in regulation since January 12th.
  • Ethan Kruger (BDN) 3.564 GAA, .890 SV%- Kruger has now had a handful of games back after being hurt mid-January.

Other Sunday action:

Moose Jaw Warriors (30-13-6-2) @ Calgary Hitmen (27-20-4-1)

  • Moose Jaw continues to be dynamite on the road at 20-5-2-0, is that the case today?

Regina Pats (15-36-1-2) @ Edmonton Oil Kings (29-16-4-4)

  • Edmonton leads the season series by a 2-0 mark; Regina coming off a win in Red Deer last night.

Medicine Hat Tigers (30-18-3-2) @ Portland Winterhawks (33-16-3-2)

  • Both teams trying to get back in the win column, Portland fresh off a 5-0 loss in Everett last night.

Prince George Cougars (16-31-4-2) @ Vancouver Giants (36-13-2-1)

  • Vancouver has won four in a row, posting an 8-1-0-1 result over their last ten, Prince George on the other hand is trying to break a 12 game losing skid.