Puck drop for the Penticton Vees含羞草研究社� playoff season is officially here.

After 18 days without a game, the Vees host the Merritt Centennials, who swept the West Kelowna Warriors in the opening round of the BCHL playoffs, Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 7 p.m.

The Vees won six of seven regular season games against the Centennials. Their lone loss was on Jan. 13, 3-2 in Merritt.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e had success against a lot of teams. I think it含羞草研究社檚 just indicative of our play throughout the regular season,含羞草研究社� said Vees captain Nicholas Jones, who collected four assists against the Centennials this season. 含羞草研究社淲e have a lot of confidence whoever we are going to play. Merritt含羞草研究社檚 a great team.含羞草研究社�

A three-week break has allowed the Vees to get healthy. Head coach-general manager Fred Harbinson said Taylor Sanheim has been cleared for contact.

含羞草研究社淲e have executed well in practice and flying on all cylinders,含羞草研究社� said Harbinson.

Jones said the break was good for them, but now they are into game week and excited to get going.

Among the players who enjoyed success against the Centennials were Grant Cruikshank, Joseph Leahy and Chris Klack, who all put up six points. Cruikshank含羞草研究社檚 three goals were second to Ty Amonte含羞草研究社檚 four.

Tyler Ward leads the Centennials with seven goals and 10 points in the playoffs, while Brett Jewell and Michael Regush each put up six points. Their goalie Jacob Berger earned the four wins behind a .918 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average.

Jones said the Centennials have a skilled team.

含羞草研究社淭hey are going to have a lot of energy. They are going to be maybe a little high on themselves,含羞草研究社� said Jones. 含羞草研究社淭hey deserve to be feeling good. Having that experience in the playoffs that we don含羞草研究社檛 have yet, they are going to be coming. They are already going to be in playoff mode.含羞草研究社�

Jared Nash, who had two goals and three points against the Centennials, said they expect the visitors to bring pace.

含羞草研究社淚 think the main thing with them is we got to push the pace,含羞草研究社� said Nash. 含羞草研究社淲e know here on Friday they are going to come out pretty hard. We got to be ready to match them.含羞草研究社�

The Vees and Centennials have met in the post season in 2012 and 2014. In 2014, the Vees swept the opening-round series. In 2012, the Vees won the Interior Division Final in five games. After getting a taste of playoff hockey last season, Jones loves everything about the playoffs.

含羞草研究社淭he intensity is there. Our fans are great,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淕oing into their building (Nicola Valley Memorial Arena) is going to be a real taste of playoff action. Especially the small rink. How much intensity there will be in the series. You don含羞草研究社檛 have much time. Every shot is a good shot there. There is a lot more opportunities to be physical. Those are the three things that are playoff hockey in a nutshell. To have it more amplified in a smaller rink makes it a lot more difficult to play.含羞草研究社�