PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees used late game heroics to earn a Game #1 victory as Josh Nadeau scored with 4.9 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Vees a 2-1 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings and take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven Interior Conference Semi Final series on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
In a matchup of two of the best defensive teams in the BC Hockey League, they played to that billing with both teams collapsing in the defensive end and not giving up many chances. Penticton began the game pressuring the Prince George defense and getting the puck below the goal line to get to work offensively but it was the Spruce Kings that reversed the flow of play and scored the game’s opening goal to get ahead by a one-goal lead.
Simon Labelle pushed the Spruce Kings ahead by a goal in the opening period as he outwaited the Vees defense and Kaeden Lane in the crease before moving to his left and sliding the puck underneath the pad of Lane at the 6:16 mark of the 1st period to give Prince George a one-goal lead in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
The Vees continued to press to try and get the game tied in the 1st period but Jordan Fairlie kept the Spruce Kings with a one-goal lead as he made 10 saves in the opening period to give Prince George a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period of play.
Fairlie had to be strong again in the 2nd period, including making a phenomenal stop on Josh Nadeau just about halfway through the middle stanza to keep the game at 1-0. Josh made his way down the right wing as he faked a move to the middle of the ice and shot to the glove side as Fairlie reached back and made a terrific stop to keep the Spruce Kings ahead by a goal.
The Vees were able to push through and get the game on even terms with 22 seconds remaining in the 2nd period as Bradly Nadeau notched his 2nd goal of the playoffs. Josh gathered a puck from Adam Eisele and, from his knees, played the puck to the front of the goal as Bradly shoveled a shot over the glove side of Fairlie to give Penticton their first goal and evened the score at 1-1 heading into the 3rd period.
Penticton threw 13 shots on goal in the final period of play with both teams going back-and-forth to create chances and just when the game looked destined for overtime, Josh Nadeau had other ideas and gave the Vees a very late lead in the 3rd period with 4.9 seconds remaining to give Penticton their first lead of the game.
Bradly gathered the puck on the left wing side and got the face-off circle and spotted his brother Josh at the right wing at the circle as he collected the puck and fanned on his first attempt but collected and buried a shot past the glove side of Fairlie for his 3rd goal of the playoffs with just 4.9 seconds remaining in the game to give Penticton a last second 2-1 lead.
Kaeden Lane turned aside 24 of the 25 shots thrown his way in his 5th win of the playoffs while Jordan Fairlie made 32 saves on 34 shots in his 1st loss of the playoffs.
FINAL SCORE: 2-1 Vees
SHOTS ON GOAL: 34-25 Vees
VEES PP: 0/2
VEES PK: 1/1
3 STARS:
1) Josh Nadeau (1-1-2)
2) Jordan Fairlie (32 saves on 34 shots)
3) Kaeden Lane (24 saves on 25 shots)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Frank Djurasevic (0-0-0)
Attendance: 3,002
The Vees will continue with Game #2 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Semi Final series against the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday night. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM at the South Okanagan Events Centre with tickets available for purchase at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirsttix.com.
