Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (35-15-3-2) got a last-second goal from Ryan Sandelin in the second period which kick started the offence in a chippy 3-1 win over the Langley Rivermen (25-27-2-1) Saturday night.
The opening 15 minutes of the game were tough for the Vees who found themselves being outshot 13-2 at one point due to penalty trouble.
Luckily for the Vees, Jack LaFontaine was at the top of his game, turning aside all 15 shots in the period to keep it scoreless heading into the intermission. His biggest save came in desperation, diving to his left to rob a sure goal from Colten Kovich.
Langley opened the scoring in the second while playing 4-on-4. The puck was sent to the neutral zone, deflected up in the air and came to Daneel Lategan. He came in on a breakaway and beat LaFontaine on the glove side off the post 6:48 into the period.
Lategan’s night came to an end a few minutes later as he was the recipient of a massive hit from Luke Loheit. Loheit was ejected from the game for a five-minute interference penalty and Lategan laid motionless on the ice for several minutes before being helped up and going to the dressing room.
Despite getting a five-minute power play out of the call, the Rivermen only received about 90 seconds of power play time because they kept taking penalties out of frustration from their teammate being injured.
Late in the period the Vees finally solved Braeden Fleming. Massimo Rizzo sent a centring pass from the corner to the slot and Ryan Sandelin wired home his 27th of the year with just eight seconds remaining to tie the game.
Early in the third the Vees went back to the power play and finally connected. David Silye skated in from the right circle and fired a perfectly-placed shot passed a screened Fleming just 2:19 into the period.
With the net empty for the extra attacker, Ryan Heliwell was called for interference shortly after Ethan Leyh tried to draw a penalty while leaving his own zone. Leyh was given a misconduct and sent to the dressing room as Penticton went to their ninth power play of the night.
Sandelin capped off the scoring, finishing off a similar play to his first goal by taking a pass from Mason Snell and beating Fleming on the blocker side for his second of the night with 43 seconds to play.
The win helped Penticton avoid losing three straight games for the first time this season and kept them in sole possession of first overall in the Interior Division. The Vees host Wenatchee Wednesday night at the SOEC.
Announced attendance was 3,319.
