If someone mentioned the Penticton Valley First Vees had five goals in a game, you would more than likely think ?victory.? However, such wasn?t the case on Friday night at the Memorial Arena. The last thing Penticton wanted was a Sixth Game back at the Vernon Multi-Plex on Saturday night. Mind you, that?s the reality following a disappointing 8-5 setback to the Vipers.
Despite still leading their Best-of-Seven Interior Conference Semi-Final Playoff Series Three Games to Two, the Valley First Vees certainly can?t be pleased with the latest result.
It was a complete ?twilight zone? type of night, pretty much from the beginning. Less than three minutes into the contest, the officials ordered both clubs off the ice in favour of a re-surfacing. The repair work took close to an hour before the game was able to resume. The score was already 1-1 at that point. Once play was back underway, Vernon struck quickly, only to be countered just as fast by Penticton on the powerplay. The Vipers tallied again with the man advantage to go up 3-2. A short time later, ?all hell broke loose.? While on a rush toward the net, the Valley First Vees? Zack Josepher bulled over Vernon goaltender Andrew Hammond, which started a melee. By the time the smoke had cleared, there was a combined 153 minutes in penalties and Penticton found itself two men down for a considerable length of time. The Vipers capitalized and found themselves with a 5-2 lead after 20 minutes.
Mind you, by the 15:59 mark of the second period, the Valley First Vees had fought back to trim the deficit to one at 5-4. But a back-breaking goal by Vernon in the final minute of the second period gave the Vipers a 6-4 edge, which seemed to completely demoralize Penticton.
Vernon added two more markers early in period three and never looked back.
Cory Schneider and Zac Dalpe potted two goals apiece, with Brett Hextall adding a single for the Valley First Vees, who remarkably enough, outshot the Vipers 46-22 overall. Kyle McMurphy was the big playmaker, contributing four assists.
The performance was undoubtedly Alex Evin?s worst of the season in the Penticton net. He allowed all eight Vernon goals on only 17 shots and appeared off his game the entire night. He was relieved by back-up Bryan Mountain, who stopped five shots during his close to 18 minute appearance.
With Game Six scheduled for Saturday night at 7:00 back in Vernon, the Penticton Valley First Vees won?t have long to wait for a chance at redemption and second opportunity to clinch the series.
FRIDAY NIGHT vs. VERNON
FINAL SCORE:
