Photo credit: Gary Dorland
Nanaimo, BC: The Penticton Vees (19-5-1-2) gave up the opening goal for the first time since November 10, but answered back to with two goals of their own and Adam Scheel made 21 saves as the Vees beat the Nanaimo Clippers (15-10-2-3) 2-1.
Nanaimo scored a power-play goal, ending a streak of 17 straight penalties killed by the Vees, to open the scoring. Brady Lynn took a quick centring feed from the goal line and beat Scheel on the blocker side at the 12:34 mark of the first.
The Vees went to their second power play of the first period inside the final two minutes and capitalized. On almost the same play the Clippers scored on, Taylor Ward sent the puck to the goal line where Ryan Sandelin quickly fired it to the stick of Owen Sillinger in the slot who wired home his 12th of the year with 13 seconds left in the period.
Penticton would take the lead in the early stages of the second. Off an interception in the neutral zone, Jackson Keane came down the right wing into the Clippers zone.
After his shot from the right circle was stopped, Ben Allen jammed at the rebound which popped up in the air and Grant Cruikshank was able to knock it out of the air and into the net for his 10th of the year.
Not long after, Keane had a shorthanded breakaway but was stopped by Burman as he tried to slide it through the five hole of the Clippers goalie.
Penticton had a two-man advantage for 46 seconds in the back half of the third period, but weren’t able to take advantage.
Burman made his best save of the night with two minutes to go, lunging across to his left and sticking out the pad to take away what looked like a sure goal for Massimo Rizzo on the power play, keeping the score 2-1 for the Vees.
Both teams had chances in the third, but Scheel shut the door after his shutout streak of 160:42 was snapped in the period for his 12th win of the year.
The Vees now take their winning streak to Port Alberni for the third and final meeting of the season against the Bulldogs (8-14-2-4). Penticton won the first two, 2-1 at the BCHL Showcase and 4-2 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
