If the BC Hockey League season were to end today, the Westside Warriors and Trail Smoke Eaters were to meet in the opening round of the playoffs.
With only two weeks left in the regular season, the two teams meet Saturday at Royal LePage Place for the sixth and final time this season.
The Warriors have won the first five meetings including Tuesday's 4-1 win in Trail.
The Smokies entered Friday's game in Penticton fourth in the Interior Conference, two points in back of third place Salmon Arm and four clear of the fifth place Warriors.
Westside will hold three games in hand.
“Sure, we're 5-0 against them but as you know in junior hockey, anything can change and they're a very good hockey club,” says Warriors head coach Darren Yopyk of the Smokies.
“We know we have to play very well against them to get points.”
While downplaying their record against Trail, Yopyk does admit a win Saturday will do wonders for his club's confidence if the two teams do meet down the road in the playoffs.
“Since you are potentially meeting them in the playoffs obviously you want to win the last game against them if you can. Other then that, it's just another game. It's of eight left.”
The Warriors have outscored Trail 29-8 over the five previous meetings.
Saturday's game also marks the return of Darren Yopyk behind the Warriors bench.
Yopyk has been forced to watch the last three games from the stands after receiving a three game league imposed suspension.
He says it gave him a chance to see the team from a different perspective.
“It isn't very often you get a chance to watch your team play so that's kind of a good thing. I like what I'm seeing, although I've liked what I have seen for a while now.”
The Warriors are also starting to get healthy down the stretch.
Defenceman Peter McIntosh and forward Brett Mulcahy are the only players left on the injured list.
Yopyk says McIntosh is definitely out this weekend while Mulcahy could be available down the road if the team goes deep enough in the playoffs.
Westside enters the game winners of two in a row.
They'll host Merritt next Tuesday before a string of four straight on the road.
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