MERRITT, B.C. – The Penticton Vees used a four-goal 2nd period to help them to their third straight exhibition victory by a 5-2 score over the Merritt Centennials at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on Saturday night.
On the smaller ice surface that the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena has to offer, shots were coming early and often with Penticton jumping ahead on the shot clock by a 6-4 margin early in the hockey game but it would be the Centennials who took the opening lead in the later stages of the 1st period.
Merritt was able to keep the puck inside of the Penticton end before Sean Michalevich gathered and shot from the right face-off circle and beat Vees netminder Yaniv Perets on the blocker side to give the Cents a 1-0 lead at the 14:26 mark.
Moments later, just like on Friday night, the Vees had a quick answer, starting with a breakout pass from Liam Malmquist inside of his own zone. His pass found Danny Weight on the left-wing side before feeding a pass across to Alex DiPaolo as he shot past the blocker side of Centennials goaltender Ryan Winter to even the score at the 14:48 mark of the opening period.
The Vees started to find the back of the net with frequency in the 2nd period, beginning the period with a bang as Jack Barnes gave Penticton their first lead of the game just 29 seconds into the period. Barnes came down the right wing and snapped a shot past the blocker side of Winter to give the Vees the early advantage before adding on 40 seconds later.
A 3-on-2 rush developed through the middle of the ice as Danny Weight carried the puck into the offensive zone and spotted the trailing defender in Evan McIntyre, who received the pass and beat Winter on the blocker side to extend the Vees lead to 3-1 at the 1:09 mark of the middle stanza.
Vincent Nardone joined the scoring for the Vees in the 2nd period as he tallied a shorthanded marker to push the Vees advantage to 4-1. Nardone rushed down the left wing and zipped a wrist shot off the glove side post of new Centennials goaltender Pierre Olivier-Couture as Penticton jumped ahead by a three-goal score at the 12:30 mark of the frame.
Alex DiPaolo added his second goal of the game at the 16:51 mark as he batted down a loose puck at the top of the crease before Matt Osadick drew the Centennials closer with a goal from the slot before the period was out and made for a 5-2 score into the 2nd intermission.
The 3rd period was filled with plenty of special teams on both sides as the game slowed considerably but both goaltenders shut the door as it would be the Vees and Perets who came away with the victory by a 5-2 score.
Yaniv Perets turned aside 31 of the 33 shots thrown his way in his first preseason game to pick up the win.
The Vees begin a three-game home stretch on Wednesday night by hosting the West Kelowna Warriors for preseason action at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Puck drop is slated for 6:30 PM with tickets available for just $5.00 at the SOEC Box Office. If you can’t make it to the rink, the game will be broadcasted on HockeyTV.com with the Voice of the Vees, Trevor Miller.
Season tickets are on sale now and the regular season just two weeks away with Penticton travelling to Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters on Friday, September 6th. The Vees home opener is slated for Friday, September 27th against the West Kelowna Warriors. Contact Director of Ticketing & Merchandise Laura Carleton for more information on season tickets and watching the Vees live this season.
