Photo: Cherie Morgan
PENTICTON B.C. – The Penticton Vees dropped their opening game of the Interior Conference Final to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 2-0, Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC).
Salmon Arm now leads the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game Two set for Friday, May 3rd, at the SOEC.
Penticton outshot the Silverbacks 37-11 but couldn’t solver Silverbacks’ goaltender Eli Pulver, who earned his third shutout of the BCHL Playoffs and was the game’s first star. Cole Longacre and Ryan Gillespie supplied the offence for the visitors.
Andrew Ness started for Penticton but was replaced by Will Ingemann after he allowed two goals on seven shots in 26 minutes of work. Ingemann stopped all four shots he faced over last half of the game.
“There wasn’t much I didn’t like about our game tonight. From puck drop, through to the end of the game, we showed a lot of effort. We created a lot of looks but just didn’t capitalize. We had a dozen scoring chances, but they just didn’t go in tonight. That’s why you play a seven game series,” commented Vees’ Director of Hockey Operations Matt Miller post-game.
Penticton started strong, as the built up a 7-0 shot advantage, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on their first shot of the game. Longacre beat Ness over the shoulder 7:30 into the first. Longacre’s second of the playoffs came off a turnover that led to a three-on-two rush for Salmon Arm. Longacre took the drop pass and put his shot over the glove of Ness.
James Fisher had a handful of chances in Game One and none better came late in the first on an odd-man rush. Anselmo Rego was the setup man, but Fisher had his shot go off the toe of Pulver and stay out, after a great cross-ice pass from Rego.
The Vees trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes despite outshooting the ‘Backs 13-6 in the opening frame.
Penticton had their looks throughout the second period too, as they outshot Salmon Arm by an 11-4 count. Despite that, the Silverbacks double their lead just past the six-minute mark.
Ryan Gillespie skated down the right wing and his shot beat Ness low on the blocker side to double the Silverbacks’ lead. Penticton made a goaltending change after the 2-0 goal.
The Vees outshot the Silverbacks 24-5 over the final two periods, including 13-1 in the third but couldn’t manufacture any offence. One of their best chances in the third came off the stick of Billy Renfrew, but he whacked his own rebound off the post.
GAME STATS
Shots: 37-11 Vees
Vees Scoring: No scoring
Vees Goaltending: Andrew Ness 26:02 5/7 (L) | Will Ingemann 30:10 4/4
Power-Plays:
Vees: 0/1
Silverbacks: 0/1
Three Stars:
1) Eli Pulver (SA)
2) Anselmo Rego
3) Ryan Gillespie (SA)
Next Game: The Vees look even their series with Salmon Arm in Game Two on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at the SOEC at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Valley First box office at the SOEC, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
