Image Credit: Penticton Vees
February 07, 2015 - 9:24 AM
CHILLIWACK - It was sweet redemption for Gabe Bast, as he scored the game-winner, twenty-eight seconds into double overtime, as the Penticton Vees upended the Chilliwack Chiefs 3-2 at Prospera Centre Friday.
Bast came down the left-wing and snapped a shot through the legs of Chilliwack Chiefs David Jacobson for the game-winner. Fitting that Bast scored, as he turned the puck over that eventually led to Trail’s overtime-winning goal last Saturday.
The Vees (38-7-2-2) surpassed last season’s point total with the win, as they now have eighty points in 49 games; they had seventy-eight in fifty-eight games last year. Chilliwack (28-16-1-3) lost their second overtime game in a row and again by a 3-2 score.
Cody DePourcq and Connor Chartier scored in regulation for the Vees, who finish with a win and tie against Chilliwack this season. Jordan Kawaguchi and Jake Larson scored for the Chiefs, who went to overtime for the fifth time in their last six games.
DePourcq, with his grandparents in attendance, opened the scoring seven-minutes into the game. DePourcq forced a backhand across the goal-line after a scramble in the Chiefs crease at 7:19; his 10th of the season.
Chartier doubled the Vees lead six-minutes later, as his attempted pass deflected into the net off a Chiefs Defender. Chartier tried to center the puck from the goal-line but the puck hit a Chiefs stick and went in at 13:09; his second goal in the last three games.
Penticton ran into penalty trouble late in the first and the Chiefs power-play cut into the deficit. Inside the final half-minute of the first and on Chiefs five-on-three man-advantage, Jordan Kawaguchi picked the corner from the right-wing circle, as his shot beat Hunter Miska upstairs at 19:33.
The teams skated to a scoreless second period but both sides had glaring chances to score.
Pat Newell had the Vees best opportunity but his rebound attempt, during a scramble, was swept off the goal-line by the goaltender’s stick. Jordan Kawaguchi had the best Chiefs chance but his spin-o-rama deke in the final seconds, was stopped by the base of the post as time expired.
The score remained unchanged until midway through the third when the Chiefs tied it. Just as a Vees power-play expired, Jake Hand found a streaking Jake Larson down the middle and his tip got through Miska’s legs 10:43, which eventually forced overtime.
Final Score: 3-2 (OT) Vees
Shots: 40-29 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 0-2 Chilliwack 1-3
Three Stars: 1) David Jacobson 2) Hunter Miska 3) Jordan Kawaguchi
The Vees remain undefeated against the Mainland Division with the win, as they’re 10-0-1-0 in 11 games; 6-0-0-0 on the road. Bast and DePourcq scored their first goals in four and five games respectively. The Vees improve their overtime record to 5-2-2 and hand Chilliwack just their second overtime loss this season; they lead the BCHL in overtime wins with eight.
The Vees continue their three-game weekend road trip Saturday, February 7th, in Powell River; face-off in 7:15pm. The Kings are coming off a 5-1 win at home over Langley Friday and have lost just four times in regulation at Hap Parker Arena. Fans can listen to the game on EZ Rock AM 800, or watch online at www.fasthockey.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015