Saturday, March 16, 2013
PENTICTON, BC-Sam Mellor broke out of a scoring slump and the Penticton Vees scored three third period goals, en route to a 4-2 win in game two Saturday. The Vees now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Interior Division Semi-Final, with game three in Salmon Arm Monday.
The Vees recorded just their fourth win this season when trailing after two periods, as they were faced with a 2-1 deficit heading into the second intermission. This after taking a 1-0 lead into the first break after Brad McClure buried his first of the post-season in the opening moments.
Sam Mellor started and ended the third period rally scoring a pair of goals in the final twenty minutes; snapping a nine game drought. Mellor’s first of the series was clutch, as he tied the game at two’s just past the eight minute mark during a power-play. Mellor let a shot go from the blue-line that had eyes for the net, picking the corner on the far-side at 8:01; the Vees scoring on their fourth and final power-play.
Mellor’s tally seemed to spark his team, as the Vees reclaimed the lead three-minutes later on another shot from the blue-line. Thomas Nitsche had his wrist-shot redirected in front by John Siemer and over Angus Redmond at 11:04. Mellor tied the game from the right-point and Nitsche’s wrist’er from the left-point resulted in the game-winner.
Mellor’s put the finishing touches on the win with an empty-net goal inside the final minute of the game. Mellor tracked down the puck on the right-wall, quickly spun and fired a shot that deflected off of a defender in the crease and in at 19:34.
For the second straight night, the Vees opened the scoring and for the second straight night it was a pretty goal. Brad McClure broke down the right-wing, dragged the puck around the defender and into the high slot. McClure then whistled a wrist-shot underneath the cross-bar at 1:32.
The scored would remain unchanged until early in the middle frame when the Silverbacks put a scare into the Vees with two goals in under four-minutes. The first was on the power-play and the result of a nice tip in front by Harlan Orr. Orr reached across his body to tip a point-shot past Chad Katunar at 3:21.
Shane Hanna gave the Silverbacks their first lead of the series not too long after the Orr marker, scoring right after a face-off at 8:48. The draw was pushed to the boards, where Hanna scooped up the puck, skated below the right-circle and squeezed a shot short-side through Katunar.
FINAL SCORE:4-2 VEES
Shots: 30-23 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 1-4 Salmon Arm 1-4
Three Stars: 1) John Siemer 2) Louie Nanne 3) Shane Hanna
Attendance: 1,212
GAME NOTES
For the sixth time at the SOEC this season, the Silverbacks failed to score more than two goals. Six different players have scored the Vees eights goals in the first two games. With his two goals on Saturday, Sam Mellor has the outright lead in team playoff scoring with four points, followed by Brad McClure, Louie Nanne and Mike Rebry who each have three. Troy Stecher had a goal waved-off in the second period after his wraparound appeared to have crossed the goal-line.
UP NEXT
The two teams are off Sunday, before the series shifts to Salmon Arm for games three and four starting Monday night at the Shaw Centre; game time for both is 7pm. The Vees are organizing a fan bus for game four, on March 19th. Fans are encouraged to call the Vees office (493-VEES) to reserve their seat.
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