Trail, BC: The Penticton Vees scored to tie game three of the Interior Division semifinals with 19.5 seconds remaining, but the elation didn’t last long as Carter Jones scored just 1:35 into overtime to cut the Vees series lead down to 2-1.
Just 80 seconds into the game, Owen Sillinger was sprung on a breakaway and beat Adam Marcoux through the five hole for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
Penticton ran into penalty trouble in the opening period, with Ocean Wiesblatt getting called for tripping 7:17 in. Trail made him pay after Kale Howarth’s shot from the right circle was stopped, the rebound was batted out of midair and Blaine Caton tied the game.
Later in the frame, James Miller was called for tripping after being stripped of the puck at centre ice. Trail scored again in similar fashion, though this time the puck was knocked out of midair from above the crossbar.
The officials convened at centre ice to discuss, but eventually called it a good goal and Trial took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The second period saw the play open up as both teams had extended zone time. Considering all the great chances, it was only fair a strange goal tied things up. Jared Nash tried a wraparound from below the goal line that appeared to bounce off Marcoux and the Trail defender in front before going in.
The third saw more of the same carry over from the second, with both goalies coming up with big saves to keep the game tied. Trail regained their lead with under nine minutes to play on an odd man rush.
Howarth skated over the Vees line down the left wing before throwing the puck to the middle for Jeremy Lucchini. The defender was able to tap the puck through the legs of Scheel to give Trail the lead again.
After another power play went by for Penticton, they pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. After pressuring deep in Trail territory, Jonny Tychonick had the puck come to him at the bottom of the right circle.
After quickly looking to see if he had a passing option, Tychonick fired the puck into the top corner over Marcoux’s glove to tie the game with just 19.5 seconds remaining, sending the Vees to overtime for the first time in the playoffs.
It didn’t take long to Trail to bounce back after the goal, as Howarth carried the puck into the Penticton zone before dropping it for Jones.
With a full head of steam, Jones charged down the middle before firing a wrist shot past Scheel’s blocker to end the game and give Trail the win.
The Vees won’t have to wait long to try and bounce back as game four goes at Cominco Arena Wednesday night at 7:00.
