Game Recap: Vees snap losing skid with road win over Vernon
Photo: Lisa Mazurek
Vernon, BC – The Penticton Vees snapped their three-game losing streak with their 5-2 win over the Vernon Vipers, Saturday night at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
The win, coupled with Trail’s loss to Salmon Arm, puts the Vees three points head of the Smoke Eaters for top spot in the BCHL’s Interior Conference.
“I give our group a lot of credit for how they fought through all the penalty trouble in the second period. Despite the two goals against, our PK did an unreal job. Tonight was a good response by our guys and a step in the right direction,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
It was a strong start for Penticton as they scored three times in the opening 20 minutes. Ryden Evers, Callum Stone, and Max Heise hit the scoresheet, as the Vees led 3-0 after the first period. Caton Ryan and Simon Meier scored in the third period.
Ethan Buenaventura was solid between the pipes for the Vees as he stopped 14 of 16 shots, as he picked up his 10th win in his 12th start.
Vernon scored both their goals on the power play in the second period. Penticton spent nine minutes of the second on the penalty kill, as they were called for a four-minute double minor and five-minute major penalty.
The Vees dominated the shot clock on Saturday, as they outshot the Vipers 35-16. Penticton held Vernon to just two shots in the first and five in the third.
Evers got the Vees on the scoresheet first, as he was credited with his 17th at 8:18 of the first period. Michael Fisher’s pass went off of Evers’ skate and in. Video review upheld the call on the ice.
Stone, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing Friday’s game, made an immediate impact, as he scored at 9:48 to double Penticton’s lead. Heise from behind the net, fed Stone out front after he pinched in from the blue line. His 4th of the season made it 2-0.
Heise then extended the lead to 3-0 on an odd man rush with Conyr Hellyer. The Vees’ captain dished the puck over to Heise, who wired his shot over the goalie’s shoulder at 19:29. Heise scored just four seconds after the Vees killed off a penalty.
The Vees got into penalty trouble in the second period and that allowed Vernon to get back in the game. Vernon cut the Vees’ lead down to 3-1 after Tyson Zimmer scored on a four-minute man advantage at 4:56. Then, after a five-minute major penalty called against Matthew Biotti, Ryan Watt scored for the Vipers on that extended power play at 13:30, to trim the Vees’ lead to 3-2.
Penticton regrouped in the third period, as they scored twice to put the game to bed. Caton Ryan got an insurance marker at 12:32 that put the Vees up 4-2. Matthew Cataldo dished to Ryan in the circle, who scored on the glove side.
Meier put the finishing touches on the win with his empty net goal at 19:25.
Penticton out the Vipers 14-5 in the final frame.
GAME NOTES
Penticton is now 26-0-2-1 in their last 29 games against the Vipers, dating back to December 2019. Ryden Evers now has nine points (4G, 5A) in five games against Vernon this season. The Vees improved their road record to 16-6-0-0, which tied for the best in the league.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 35 Vipers- 16
Scoring: Ryden Evers (17th), Callum Stone (4th), Max Heise (21st), Caton Ryan (7th), Simon Meier (7th)
Goaltending: Ethan Buenaventura (W), 60:00, 14/1
Vees Power Play: 0/1
Vees Penalty Kill: 3/5
Three Stars:
1) Max Heise (1G, 1A)
2) Edvin Nilsson (2A)
3) Callum Stone (1G, 1A)
Up Next: Monday, February 17, vs. West Kelowna, 2:00 pm.