Image Credit: Garrett James Photography

COQUITLAM, B.C. - One night after having their 23-game winning streak ended, the Penticton Vees looked like a team that might not be beaten again, as they steamrolled the Coquitlam Express 8-2 last night, Nov. 21.

Tyson Jost led the pack with a goal and five points and five Vees had two or more points in the win. Easton Brodzinski and Dante Fabbro each scored twice and Scott Conway, Chris Gerrie and Demico Hannoun added solo markers.

Penticton exploded for five goals in the first period and three more in the second before cruising to their 24th win in 26 games.

Despite the lopsided win, it wasn’t the start the Vees were envisioning, as they fell behind 64-seconds into the game. Austin McIlmurray scored on the Express’ first shot after the initial attempt was blocked. The goal however seemed to spark the Vees more than Coquitlam.

With a man up, Easton Brodzinski tied the game, scoring his BCHL-leading 12th power-play goal five-minutes in. Conway fired a pass from circle-to-circle and Brodzinski’s quick trigger knotted things up at 4:59.

Hannoun grabbed the Vees their first lead halfway through the first and on a great individual effort. Hannoun, in the right-circle, dragged the puck around the defender and, after falling to his knees, fired a shot over Tyger Howat’s shoulder at 10:37.

Fabbro then scored his first of two in the opening frame just after the 12-minute mark. The defenseman crept down from the point and Jost found him open in the middle at 12:03.

The Captain then got in on the act, scoring his team-leading 23rd on another power-play. Jost faked-out the goalie at the side of the net, before going around him and tucking the puck in at the side at 16:08.

Fabbro was at it again inside the final minute and again it was Jost setting up the rear-guard. Fabbro, the trailer on an odd-man rush, took the drop pass and went upstairs at 19:03.

After the dust settled, the Vees scored five goals in just over 14-minutes and took a 5-1 lead into the intermission.

Penticton kept adding to their lead in the middle stanza, as Scott Conway and Chris Gerrie scored two goals 33-seconds apart. First, Conway danced into the zone, cut to the middle and squeezed a shot through the goalies arm at 4:13. Then on the next shift, Gerrie went hard to the net and from his knees, stuffed in his own rebound at 4:46. That goal chased Express starter Tyger Howat from the net; he was replaced by Lawson Fenton.

Brodzinski capped off the scoring barrage on an odd-man rush. Jost and Brodzinski came in on a two-on-one and Jost went across to Brodzinski for the tap-in at 12:22.

Coquitlam got a consolation marker in the dying moments of the second. On the power-play, Taylor Green followed his own rebound to the net for the Express’ second and final goal of the game at 19:45.

Third period was all but a formality.

Final Score: 8-2 Vees

Shots: 44-27

Power-Plays: Vees 2-5 Express 1-2

Three Stars: 1) Dante Fabbro 2) Nicholas 3) Easton Brodzinski

Saturday was the second time the Vees have scored eight goals this year; they beat Merritt 8-4 on Halloween night. Conway extended his point streak to 23-games in the win and Jost’s streak is now at 13-games. Jost also moved back into the BCHL scoring lead, with 54 points in 26 games; one up on Nanaimo’s Sheldon Rempal.

Penticton (24-2-0-0) is now off until Wednesday, November 25, when they host the Vernon Vipers at the SOEC; face-off is 7 p.m. Wednesday marks the first of a five straight at home, and the Vees have won all 11 games they’ve played at the SOEC this season.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015