Penticton, BC: After a strong comeback fell short for Penticton in game four against the Trail Smoke Eaters, the Vees return home to the South Okanagan Events Centre looking for a 3-2 series lead in the Interior Division semifinals.
Wednesday in Trail, Wyatt Sloboshan opened the scoring with a short-handed breakaway in the first before the Smoke Eaters would answer back 46 seconds later.
While the Vees carried most of the play in the second, Trail added a pair of goals. The first came off a turnover behind the Vees net as the puck popped out in front and Carter Jones was able to fire it past Adam Scheel 6:44 in.
Taylor Ward had the Vees best chance to tie the game in the second after he was sprung on a breakaway. Ward tried to beat Adam Marcoux over the glove, but the Trail net minder flashed his glove to a raucous ovation from the Smoke Eaters faithful.
Late in the period, Kale Howarth let go a one timer from the right circle that beat Scheel off a deflection to give the Smoke Eaters a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Much like game three the Vees clawed back to tie the game. First it was Jonny Tychonick firing a slap shot from the right circle past Marcoux, and just 22 seconds later Tychonick’s wrist shot from the line was deflected by Lukas Sillinger in the slot.
After pushing back for a few minutes, the Smoke Eaters finally broke through when Seth Barton’s shot from the right point eluded all traffic in front to restore Trail’s lead with 5:55 to play.
Tyler Ghirardosi then scored a highlight-reel goal to ice the game with just over two minutes to play before Ross Armour hit the empty net to seal the 6-3 win.
After the Vees struck for seven power-play goals in games one and two, Penticton couldn’t replicate that success on the road going 0-for-8 in games three and four. The penalty kill was the same story as the Vees killed off all six Trail power plays at home, but gave up four power-play goals on eight penalties at Cominco Arena.
During the regular season Penticton posted a record of 20-4-2-2 at the South Okanagan Events Centre, the third highest winning percentage in the BCHL behind Wenatchee and Prince George.
The Vees are 4-0 at home through the Fred Page Cup playoffs so far, outscoring their opponent 23-8. Under Fred Harbinson’s reign with the Vees, Penticton is 9-6 all time in game five’s at home.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
Jonny Tychonick – 3 G 10 A 8 GP
Taylor Ward – 5 G 7 A 8 GP
Wyatt Sloboshan – 4 G 6 A 8 GP
Trail Smoke Eaters
Kale Howarth – 4 G 9 A 8 GP
Levi Glasman – 5 G 4 A 8 GP
Tyler Ghiradosi – 7 G 1 A 8 GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power play – 35.9% (1st among remaining teams)
Penalty kill – 80.8% (4th among remaining teams)
Trail Smoke Eaters
Power play – 30.0% (3rd among remaining teams)
Penalty kill – 65.8% (last among remaining teams)
Series schedule
Game one – March 16, 2018 Vees 5 Smoke Eaters 3 Boxscore
Game two – March 17, 2018 Vees 7 Smoke Eaters 2 Boxscore
Game three – March 20, 2018 Vees 3 @ Smoke Eaters 4 OT Boxscore
Game four – March 21, 2018 Vees 3 @ Smoke Eaters 6 Boxscore
Game five – March 23, 2018 Vees vs Smoke Eaters 7:00
Game six – March 24, 2018 Vees @ Smoke Eaters 7:00
Game seven – March 26, 2018 Vees vs Smoke Eaters 7:00*
*If necessary
