Photo: Jennifer Small
TRAIL, B.C. – The Penticton Vees saved their best for last Sunday. The Vees erased a 2-0 third period deficit, as they won 3-2 over the Trail Smoke Eaters at Cominco Arena in Trail.
The Vees found themselves down 2-0 three and a half minutes into the final frame, before they rallied for three unanswered goals for the dramatic comeback win.
The victory extended Penticton’s point streak to nine games (8-0-1-0) and moved them seven points ahead of West Kelowna for top spot in the Interior. The Vees also kept themselves a point ahead of Surrey for first overall in the BCHL.
“We were flat for the first two periods, but once we got the first goal in the third it completely galvanized the bench. Today’s win speaks to the maturation process of this group. Earlier this year, we probably don’t win this game, but today we dug in and found a way. It’s great momentum to build off of,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg post-game.
Penticton scored three goals on 13 shots in the third period Sunday. James Fisher and Anselmo Rego scored just under three minutes apart, as the Vees quickly erased Trail’s 2-0 lead. The line of Fisher, Rego, and Billy Renfrew combined for six points (2G, 4A) in Sunday’s win. Fisher and Rego each had a goal and an assist.
Simon Meier scored the game-winner on the power play late in regulation to cap off the comeback win.
“As a group, we struggled through two periods but figured it out when it mattered. Rego’s line was great example of that. They found a spark in the third and spearheaded the comeback. Today we showed we can have a ‘B’ game and make our ‘B’ game could enough to win,” noted Vanden Berg.
Trail scored both of their goals on the power play Sunday afternoon. Adam Parsons put the home team up 1-0 midway through the second. Then, Chase Stefanek doubled the Smokies’ lead with his power play marker just minutes into the third period. Trail scored on back-to-back power plays to go up 2-0.
The Vees’ comeback bid started five and a half minutes into the third, as Fisher scored two minutes after Trail went up 2-0. Fisher’s 20th came after he batted a rebound out of mid-air and past the fallen Trail goaltender.
The tying goal was a result of a three-way passing play between Fisher, Rego, and Renfrew. The sequence was finished off by Rego who steered Renfrew’s cross-ice feed through the goalie’s pads as he cut across the crease.
The Vees’ game-winner came on an extended power play, after Trail’s Max Potvin was handed a double minor for spearing Vees’ goaltender Andrew Ness.
Meier gave Penticton their first lead with just 4:49 to go, as he muscled his slapshot past the Trail netminder on the glove side. His first goal since his hat-trick February 2nd, in Salmon Arm.
GAME NOTES
James Fisher extended his point streak to seven games with his two point effort. Fisher now has six goals and nine points in his last seven; he has scored in three straight games. Sunday was just the Vees’ second come from behind win this season. They were previously 1-5-1-0 when trailing after two periods. Penticton is now 5-0-1-0 in their last six road games.
GAME STATS
Shots: 32-28, Vees
Vees Scoring: James Fisher (20), Anselmo Rego (7), Simon Meier (11)
Vees Goaltending: Andrew Ness (W) 60:00 26/28
Power-Plays
Vees: 1/4
Smoke Eaters 2/4
Three Stars:
1) Anselmo Rego (1G, 1A)
2) Chase Stefanek (1G)
3) Billy Renfrew (2A)
NEXT GAME: The Vees (32-7-3-2) visit the Coquitlam Express (20-20-1-3) on Friday, March 1st, at the Poirier Sports & Leisure Centre; puck drop is 7:00 pm.
