The Penticton Valley First Vees are halfway to a BCHL Championship after shading the Nanaimo Clippers 3-2, Saturday night at the Memorial Arena. The victory gives Penticton a Two Games to Nothing lead in the Best-of-Seven Fred Page Cup Final.
Austin Smith?s two first period goals put the Valley First Vees up 2-0 after one period of play.
The Clippers got on the board near the midway mark of the second. However, just as a two minute, two man advantage had expired, Brett Hextall restored Penticton?s two goal cushion at 3-1 headed for the third.
Things got dicey early in period three as Nanaimo struck a little over a minute in to make it 3-2, but that?s as close as the Clippers could get. Solid play and the usual strong netminding from Alex Evin preserved the Valley First Vees? second consecutive one goal decision.
Denver Manderson potted two assists for Penticton. As for Alex Evin, he recorded his 10th victory of the post season, stopping 28 of 30 shots. It was also the Valley First Vees? seventh straight playoff win.
The scene now shifts to the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo for Games Three and Four, Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively. The Penticton Valley First Vees realize they have the upper hand, but this evenly matched series is anything but a lock.
If a Fifth Game is necessary, it would be played on Friday, April 11th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Arena.
SATURDAY NIGHT vs. NANAIMO
FINAL SCORE: PENTICTON – 3, NANAIMO – 2
Nanaimo 0 1 1 = 2
Penticton 2 1 0 = 3
Goals
Nanaimo: Matt Irwin – 1 (5), Eric Filiou – 1 (3)
