The Penticton Vees had a major bounce-back performance in game two of the Interior Division quarterfinals Saturday night, evening up the series with a 4-1 win. Now they look to continue that success on the road as game three goes Tuesday night at the Island Savings Centre.
After the Vees power play went 0-for-5 in game one, Ryan Sandelin scored on the Vees first man advantage of game two as he deflected a point shot from James Miller nine minutes into the game.
The Capitals scored on their first power play as well when Brady Lynn got a bounce off a skate and found an open net for his first of the playoffs.
Tied up at one after one, David Silye resorted Penticton’s lead with a shorthanded goal half way through the second.
After reading a drop pass from the Capitals defender perfectly, Silye stole the puck and came down the right wing all alone before ripping a shot into the top corner over Pierce Diamond’s glove.
With the game still 2-1 in the final minute of the period, Sandelin rushed up the ice and into the Capitals zone. He tried to step around the defender but was pokechecked.
After recovering the puck behind the net, Sandelin hooked it in front for Eric Linell who threw it to the crease on his backhand. Diamond made the right pad save, but the puck came right back to Linell and he was able to lift it over the pad to give the Vees a 3-1 lead after two.
As expected, Cowichan pushed back in the third but Jack LaFontaine turned aside all 13 shots sent his way before Andre Ghantous hit the empty net with 39 seconds remaining.
The teams nearly came together after the final whistle as the Capitals tried to take the game puck with them to the locker room, but after the Vees made their way towards the Capitals exit the officials forced Diamond to hand the puck over.
With the series now a best of five the Vees will have to try and take home ice back. Penticton’s first win of the season came at the Island Savings Centre back on September 14.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
Eric Linell – 2G 0A 2GP
Ryan Sandelin – 1G 1A 2GP
David Silye – 1G 0A 2GP
Cowichan Valley Capitals
Niko Selivanov – 2G 2A 2GP
Paul Selleck – 1G 2A 2GP
Brady Lynn – 1G 2A 2GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power Play – 12.5 per cent (1/8)
Penalty Kill – 66.7 per cent (2/3)
Cowichan Valley Capitals
Power Play – 33.3 per cent (1/3)
Penalty Kill – 87.5 per cent (7/8)
Series Schedule
Game one – Vees 1 vs Capitals 4 Boxscore
Game two – Vees 4 vs Capitals 1 March 2, 2019 Boxscore
Game three – Vees @ Capitals March 5, 2019
Game four – Vees @ Capitals March 6, 2019
Game five – Vees vs Capitals March 9, 2019
Game six – Vees @ Capitals, March 11, 2019*
Game seven – Vees vs Capitals March 13, 2019*
*If necessary
