COQUITLAM, B.C. – The Penticton Vees swept their Lower Mainland road trip with a 6-2 win over the Coquitlam Express, Saturday at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.
The Vees have now won four in a row and have extended their point streak to 11 games (10-0-1-0). Penticton remains eight points ahead of West Kelowna for top spot in the division and have a game in hand on the Warriors.
We got out to a great start and then was impressive considering how long of a day it was leading up to the game. Our inexperience showed a little bit in the second, but we came up with a great third period push led by Billy’s line,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg post-game.
Billy Renfrew recorded a hat-trick in the win to lead the offence. His linemates also had a big night, as James Fisher recorded three assists and Anselmo Rego had a pair of helpers. Renfrew was named the first star for the second night in a row and now has four goals and seven points in his last three games.
“Billy just shows up and works every day. He knows what makes him effective and he doesn’t get wrapped up in trying to be something he’s not. He plays the right way and gets rewarded,” remarked Vanden Berg.
Penticton got some help from their blueline, as defenceman Lucas Sorace and Larry Keenan scored in the win. Thomas Pichette rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal late in regulation.
Andrew Ness earned the win in goal for the Vees as he stopped 25 of 27 shots for his 14th win.
The Vees led 2-0 after the first period as Renfrew and Sorace scored 40 seconds apart late in the opening frame. Renfrew scored his first of three to put Penticton ahead 1-0 at 18:45 with his power play goal. Then a few moments later, Sorace scored to make it 2-0 with just 35 seconds left in the first. Keenan made it 3-0 for the visitors when he scored six minutes into the second period.
Coquitlam fashioned a comeback attempt midway through the second, as they cut the Vees lead down to one. First, David Brandes made it 3-1 at 11:42, then former Vee Luke Vardy’s power play goal at 18:37 cut the Penticton lead down to 3-2.
Penticton had a great response in the third period, as they scored three unanswered goals to pull away.
Renfrew started off the third with his back-to-back goals to complete the hat-trick. The Fairbanks, AK, product scored his second of the night at 6:21 that put the Vees up 4-2. Then he redirected Fisher’s pass at 12:33 for his third goal of the night that extended the lead to 5-2.
Pichette capped off the scoring with his empty net goal with just over two minutes left for the 6-2 final.
GAME NOTES
The line of Renfrew, Fisher, and Rego combined for eight points in Saturday’s win. Fisher extended his point streak to nine games. He has six goals and 13 points in his last nine. Renfrew has six points in his last three games. Penticton is now 7-0-1-0 in their last eight road games and own the league’s best road record at 15-5-3-2.
GAME STATS
Shots: 38-27, Vees
Vees Scoring: Renfrew (3), Sorace, Keenan, Pichette
Vees Goaltending: Andrew Ness (W) 60:00 25/27
Power-Plays
Vees: 1/4
Express 1/3
Three Stars:
1) Billy Renfrew
2) James Fisher
3) Luke Vardy
NEXT GAME: The Vees (34-7-3-2) visit the West Kelowna Warriors (28-10-9-0) on Friday, March 8th; puck drop is 7:00 pm
