Photo: Jack Murray
PENTICTON B.C. – The Penticton Vees bounced back Friday night with a 4-1 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Game Two of their Interior Conference Final. The best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1, heading to Salmon Arm for Game Three Monday.
After dropping Thursday’s series opener 2-0, the Vees found their scoring touch once again, as James Fisher, Billy Renfrew, Connor MacPherson, and Callum Arnott scored.
Will Ingemann was excellent in net, as he turned aside 27 of 28 shots and was named the first star.
“As the old saying goes, patience is a virtue. We did a lot of the same things tonight that we did a night ago. Took us until the second to break through, but scoring the first goal was huge. Big confidence boost for our guys, and we didn’t have to chase the game,” said Vees’ Director of Hockey Operations, Matt Miller.
It took four and a half periods, but the Vees finally scored their first goal of the series nine minutes into the second period. Fisher was awarded a penalty shot and scored his second of the postseason at 9:05, after he scored five-hole on Pulver.
The Silverbacks’ Jonah Aegerter tied the game three minutes after Fisher’s goal, with his toe-drag snipe at 12:30. His third of the playoffs drew the ‘Backs level.
It didn’t stay tied for long, as Renfrew gave the Vees their second lead of the game late in the second. Just over two minutes after Salmon Arm tied it, Renfrew put Penticton back ahead, as he scored his second of the playoffs to make it 2-1. Anselmo Rego forced a turnover just outside the Silverbacks’ zone. Renfrew picked up the puck, walked in, and fired over Pulver’s glove.
MacPherson got the Vees a much-needed insurance goal late in the final frame. The puck bounced off the boards and MacPherson timed the bounce perfectly, as he launched a slap shot from the right wing that beat Pulver on the stick side. MacPherson’s fourth of the playoffs put the Vees up 3-1 with five and a half minutes left in the third.
Arnott put the game away with an empty-net goal with half a minute left in regulation.
GAME STATS
Shots: 36-28 Vees
Vees Scoring: J. Fisher (2), B. Renfrew (2), C. MacPherson (4), C. Arnott (5)
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann 60:00 27/28 (W)
Power-Plays:
Vees: 0/1
Silverbacks: 0/2
Three Stars:
1) Will Ingemann
2) James Fisher
3) Jonah Aegerter (SA)
Next Game: The series shifts to Salmon Arm for Game Three on Monday, May 6th; puck drop at 6:00 pm. Fans can follow the game on Bounce 800 AM or watch on Flo Hockey TV.
