Image Credit: Contributed
October 25, 2015 - 9:41 AM
DUNCAN, B.C. - The Penticton Vees extended their BCHL-best win streak to 15-games Saturday night, Oct. 24, downing the Cowichan Valley Capitals 5-3 at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
Scott Conway and Chris Gerrie each scored twice in the win for the red-hot Vees and Easton Brodzinski added an empty-netter late. Anthony Brodeur kept his perfect record intact, making 18-saves for his straight 10th win.
Much like Friday, the Vees came out of the shoot flying, as they outshot the Caps 16-6 in the opening frame. Despite the strong start the Vees had a tough time solving Caps starter Storm Phaneuf but eventually broke through inside the final 20-seconds of the period.
On a power-play, Conway made a slick move around a defender before blasting a shot underneath the cross-bar and over Phaneuf’s glove at 19:45. The jubilation was short lived; the Caps had a response before time ran out.
Daniel Wanner knocked down a clearing attempt and with eight-tenths of a second left on the clock, squeezed a shot off the post and past Brodeur.
Conway got the Vees going again in the opening moments of the second, as he scored 39-seconds in. David Eccles point-shot was blocked in front of the net but the puck bounced to Conway for the tap-in; his second of the game and team-leading 15th.
The second was filled with penalties as it was a parade to the penalty box between the two teams. On a Vees power-play late in the frame, Chris Gerrie padded the Vees lead. Colton Poolman took a shot from the boards that jumped off the leg of Gerrie and past the Caps goaltender at 16:28.
Like the first, the Caps had another late rebuttal, as Ryan Burton made it a one-goal game again. The Caps forward followed the play to the net and after Carter Cochrane was stopped, Burton buried the rebound on the doorstep at 19:35.
Cowichan Valley rode that momentum into the third and found the tying goal just over two-minutes in. After a Vees defender was caught in the neutral zone, the Caps broke in on a two-on-one rush, which ended with Luke Santerno bagging his fifth at 2:12.
The Caps found themselves in penalty trouble once more and again Gerrie manufactured an important goal. After a short scramble in the Caps crease, Gerrie managed to squeeze the puck between the post and the goalie’s arm at the side of the net; Gerrie getting his sixth and the game-winner at 8:13.
The Caps pulled the goalie late for the extra skater but the Vees withheld the push and Brodzinski sealed the win by sliding the puck into an empty-net from the neutral zone; Brodzinski scoring his 10th into an open cage.
Final Score: 5-3 Vees
Shots: 37-21 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 3-8 Capitals 0-7
Three Stars: (EZ Rock Broadcast) 1) Chris Gerrie 2) Colton Poolman 3) Ryan Burton
Conway extended his point streak to 15-games in the win and now has scored in eight straight games. Conway has moved into first in the BCHL scoring race with 15 goals and 32 points; one point up on his line-mate Tyson Jost. With his two helpers Friday, Colton Poolman now has 12 points in 10 games in October.
The Vees are off until next Friday, October 30th, when they host the Merritt Centennials at the SOEC; puck drop is 7 pm. Its Halloween weekend, as the Vees will be hosting a Trick-or-Suite event for children at the game. Tickets are available at the Valley first box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015