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2. Can they score? Pt. II

It’s not just a question of if they can score, it’s also ‘who?’ Reyna has three of their last six goals and has been the most consistent offensive threat. Fredy Montero has one shot and no goals in his last three appearances, and hasn’t scored a non-PK goal since the ninth minute against Portland on May 10 — a span of 938 total minutes. Inbeom Hwang is third in shots per game (1.6) but has just one goal — way back on April 17. Forward Lucas Venuto might have three goals, but he’s tied with Henry, a centreback. Seven other players have a single goal in 2019.

Rookie striker Theo Bair will likely see action Wednesday night, after looking lively and being unlucky not to score last weekend against the New England Revolution.

Photo by Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

3. Can they defend?

Since their last shutout, a 1-0 win over Portland, May 10, the Caps have given up multiple goals in nine of the next 12 games. The recent four-game stretch where they’ve been outscored 16-2 is the most in team history. They’ll need to rediscover the stingy form they showed in the 11-game stretch from April 12 to May 31, just before the international break, when they conceded two goals in a game just twice. And of those four goals, two were PKs and one an own goal.

4. Confident Cavs

Calgary comes into the game rested and full of confidence. They’re on a 3-0 start to the CPL’s fall schedule after winning the spring banner and the playoff berth that comes with it.

The Cavs rested a few key starters in Saturday’s home game with York9, playing a conservative game tactically in their 1-0 victory — coming via a Daniel Gogarty own goal — with head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. acknowledging post-game he was planning ahead for Wednesday’s game. As the Whitecaps’ run of form has shown — one win in 13 games across all competition, dating back to May 10 — confidence is crucial.