If it's playoff time in the BC Hockey League it must mean the Westside Warriors and Trail Smoke Eaters are ready to renew acquaintances.
For the third consecutive post season the Warriors and Smokies will meet in round one of the Interior Conference playoffs.
In 2009, Westside swept their best-of-five series, then last year, they needed five tough games to get past the pesky Smoke Eaters.
Trail took game one and led game two 2-0 until Westside poured in four unanswered goals in the third period.
They would take the next three but had to work every shift.
Expect much the same when these two teams open their best-of-seven Friday night at Royal LePage Place.
Despite winning all six regular season meetings between the two teams, the Warriors finished the season with just two more wins and five more points than the Smokies.
Statistically, the Warriors were the dominant team over the regular season series.
The Warriors outscored Trail 34-12 during the season series. Their power-play clicked on 5-18 opportunities while the Smokies scored five times in 27 opportunities.
And, if the regular season is any indication, Alex Grieve and Kyle Singleton could be the offensive keys for the Warriors.
Grieve had three goals and 13 points in six games while Singleton scored six times and three assists.
Sam Mellor was the top scoring Smokie with two goals and four assists.
The Warriors enter the series as healthy as they've been in recent weeks.
Only Brett Mulcahy and Stefan Nicholishen are on the shelf. Nicholishen, who was injured last Friday against Quesnel could be back later in the series.
For the Smokies, the recipe may be the same as last season's series – jump on the Warriors early and try to ride the netminding of Kiefer Smiley, the league's number seven ranked goaltender.
Smiley finished the season with 23 wins and a 2.83 goals against average.
Game two in the series goes Saturday night at Royal LePage Place before moving to Trail for games three and four Monday and Tuesday.
Should a fifth game be needed it would be played next Thursday back at RLP.
Team Sites
Follow the BCHL
