Game Recap: Vees come from behind late, beat Eagles 3-1 in Game Two

Photo: Jack Murray

Assistant Coach Matt Vanden Berg

SURREY, B.C. – The Penticton Vees are heading back home with a split after their 3-1 win over the Surrey Eagles, Saturday in Game Two of the BCHL Fred Page Cup Final. The series is now tied 1-1, as the scene shifts to Penticton for Game Three on Tuesday.

Once again, the Vees showed their flair for the dramatic, as they erased a 1-0 third period deficit and scored three goals in the final seven and a half minutes of the game. Penticton got goals from Luca Sorace, James Fisher, and Thomas Pichette in a seven-minute span. Fisher’s game-winner came with two and a half minutes left in the game.

“Honestly, just sticking with it. From our opening shift in the first period onward we played our game. We played with pace, didn’t give them much, backchecked hard and finally capitalized on our chances. That’s a credit to our guys, understanding who they are and what our identity is as a team,” said Assistant Coach Matt Vanden Berg post-game.

Goaltender Will Ingemann was excellent, as he stopped 24 of 25 shots, including all nine he faced in the third period. A bounce back performance from the 19-year-old after he surrendered four goals on 10 shots in half a game on Friday.

Fisher had an eventful night in Game Two. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick was in the penalty box when the Eagles grabbed the lead late in the second period. However, Fisher responded by scoring the game-winning goal late in the third, as he made it 2-1 with just 2:24 left on the clock.

The Eagles broke a 0-0 deadlock late in the second period, as Aaron Schwartz put Surrey ahead 1-0 at 14:57 with his power play goal. Schwartz tagged a one-timer from the circle that beat Ingemann over the shoulder.

The Vees score their first of the Fred Page Cup final! Lucas Sorace’s goal couldn’t come at a better time as it ties the game 1-1 late in the 3rd!

@Fraser_Vees #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/pgd5WiLKTg

— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) May 19, 2024

Penticton got their first goal of the series 12 and a half minutes into the third, as Sorace tied the game 1-1 on his first of the playoffs. Billy Renfrew dished the puck to Sorace who came down from the point and he fired a dart over Ajeet Gundarah’s glove at 12:23. Sorace’s first goal in 21 games.

The Vees score their first of the Fred Page Cup final! Lucas Sorace’s goal couldn’t come at a better time as it ties the game 1-1 late in the 3rd!

@Fraser_Vees #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/pgd5WiLKTg

— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) May 19, 2024

The Vees grabbed their first lead of the series five minutes after they tied it. With less than three minutes in regulation, Fisher drove down the left wing in the Eagles’ zone, turned back up the wall, curled across the top of the blueline, and skated down the right side, before he fired a wrist shot that beat Gundarah on the short side. Fisher’s fourth of the playoffs put the Vees ahead 2-1 with just two minutes and 24 seconds left in the game.

Pichette put the game out of reach with his empty net goal with 37 seconds left.

GAME STATS

Shots: 28-25 Vees

Vees Scoring: Sorace (1), Fisher (4), Pichette (3)

Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann 60:00 24/25 (W)

Power-Plays:

Vees: 0/0

Eagles: 1/1

Three Stars:

1) James Fisher (1G)

2) Aaron Schwartz (1G)

3) Lucas Sorace (1G)

Next Game: Tuesday, May 21, Game Three at the SOEC; puck drop 7:00 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors. Youth 18 and under get in free, courtesy of Peters’ Bros. Construction.