Trail, BC- The Penticton Vees jumped back in the win column with their 7-2 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters, Friday at Cominco Arena in Trail.
On the heels of their first shutout loss in nearly two years, the Vees (31-3-0-0) offence erupted for seven goals on 44 shots. Friday was the 12th time this season Penticton has scored seven or more goals in a game.
The win did come at a price, as Penticton had to overcome three first period injuries. They played the final 40 minutes with just 10 forwards and five defencemen.
Special teams were crucial to the Vees success, as they went 3-4 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill.
Luca Di Pasquo picked up his 22nd win, after he stopped 26 of 28 shots. Di Pasquo was sharp early, making a pair of breakaway saves in the first.
Bradly Nadeau put the Vees up 1-0 two minutes into the first period with his 28th goal of the season. On the game’s first power play, Bradly took a pass from his older brother Josh and picked the corner from the circle at 2:02.
Richter doubled the Vees’ lead late in the opening frame. The 18-year-old got a piece of Frank Djurasevic’s point shot, deflecting the puck underneath the goalie’s arm at 19:14, for his 4th.
Trail responded quickly, as they cut the Vees’ lead in half on Nicholas Remissong’s goal that made it 2-1 14 seconds after Penticton had scored.
Despite having a short bench at the start of the second, Penticton came out and scored twice in the first four and a half minutes. Jackson Nieuwendyk scored on the power play at 2:17 to make it 3-1. Nieuwendyk tipped in Djurasevic’s point shot for his 14th goal. Penticton wasn’t done there.
Aydar Suniev made it 4-1 at 4:22, as he poked the puck across the goal line from inside the Trail crease. Nic DeGraves chopped the puck on net from the side and it trickled through the goalie’s pads, sitting for Suniev in the crease, who shoveled it in for his 24th.
Trail cut the Vees’ lead to 4-2 early in the third period on goal by Ethan Warrener at 3:25, but Penticton responded with three unanswered to closeout the scoring.
Josh Nadeau made 5-2 after he tipped in his brother’s pass after Trail turned it over along the wall. Josh’s 23rdrestored the three-goal lead. Suniev picked up his second of the game as he made it 6-2 at 13:10 on another Vees’ power play goal. Suniev scored Penticton’s third power play marker when his one-timer got through the goalie from the circle. Tinling finished the scoring at 17:09, as his 11th of the campaign made it 7-2.
GAME NOTES
Defenceman Ben Brunette and forwards Cal Arnott and Billy Norcross all sustained injuries in the first period and did not return. Suniev now has two or more points in seven of his last eight games. He has 19 points (9G, 10A) in his last eight. Bradly and Josh Nadeau each had three points in the win. Dovar Tinling, Brett Moravec, and Frank Djurasevic all had two-point nights.
GAME STATS
Final Score: 7-2, Vees
Shots: 44-28, Vees
Vees Scoring: Suniev (2), B. Nadeau, Richter, J. Nadeau, Nieuwendyk, Tinling
Vees PP: 3/4
Vees PK: 2/2
Three Stars:
- Bradly Nadeau (1G, 2A)
- Nicholas Remissong (1G)
- Frank Djurasevic (2A)
Attendance: 1,823
Next Game: Saturday, Jan. 14 vs. Cowichan Valley Capitals, 6:00 pm.
