Duncan, BC: The Penticton Vees (1-1-0) scored three times in the second period, including with just 17.5 seconds remaining, and held on for a 4-2 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals (0-2-1) Friday night.
A scoreless first period had the Vees leading 11-4 in shots as they carried the majority of the play. Two power-play opportunities for the Vees helped them jump ahead in shots, where they would remain all game.
Just 26 seconds into the second period the Vees got on the board. Drew Elser, skating down the left wing, blocked a Capitals clearing attempt before forcing the puck back into the Cowichan zone. Still skating forward, the Vees forward dug the puck out of the skates of the Capitals defender before spinning away and finding a lane to the goal in the left circle.
Elser then dropped to one knee and fired a snap shot into the top corner over the glove of Jack Grant for the first goal of his BCHL career, opening the scoring in the process.
On their fourth power play of the game, Ryan Sandelin finished off a nice passing play by the Vees sneaking a shot under the glove of Grant from the slot for his first of the year. The goal came at 8:39 of the second period.
A few minutes later the Capitals cut the lead to 2-1 after Preston Brodziak cleaned up the rebound of a Jordan Robert partial breakway.
From the 15:51 mark of the second period and on, the two teams combined for 28 penalty minutes and five misconducts as tensions flaired.
Late in the period, while four on four, James Miller centred the puck from the left wing boards and it banked off the leg of Elser at the top of the crease. The puck slowly rolled over the goal line to give the Vees a 3-1 lead heading into the third.
Just over two minutes into the third, David Silye jumped on the rebound after Sandelin hooked the puck on net from the slot for his first goal as a Vee.
As the penalties continued to accumulate, Capitals head coach Mike Vandekamp was ejected from the game with 11:31 remaining in the third.
The Capitals eventually added another goal with just 1:45 to go after Olivier Gauthier deflected Dimitri Mikrogiannakis’s one timer.
The Vees wrap up their short two-game road trip with a 7:00 game against the Victoria Grizzlies (1-2-0) Saturday night, The Grizzlies bead Alberni 5-1 Friday night.
