Recap: Vees hold off Bulldogs, win fourth in a row

Photo: Tom Grimsdale (Ideal Images Red Deer)

Blackfalds, AB – The Penticton Vees are leaving Alberta with two wins, as they swept their weekend road trip, after their 4-3 victory over the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Saturday at Eagle Builders Centre.

The Vees have won four in a row and extend their point streak to 15 games (13-0-2-0). Penticton is now five points clear of second place Trail atop of the Interior Conference standings.

16-year-old rookie forward Eli McKamey scored twice Saturday night. Caton Ryan finished the game with three assists. Luke Posthumus and Callum Stone also scored.

Penticton was down 1-0 in the second period, before they scored four straight goals to go up 4-1. Blackfalds made noise late, scoring twice in the final three minutes to cut the Vees lead down to one.

After a scoreless first period, it was the Bulldogs who went ahead on a shorthanded goal by Thomas Neu at 4:35. Neu credited with the goal after Nolan Stevenson crashed into the net and Will Ingemann. Originally Blackfalds was awarded a penalty shot, but after video review the referees determined the puck had gone in before the net was dislodged by Stevenson sliding into his goaltender.

The Vees rebounded, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Luke Posthumus tied the game 1-1 with his team-leading 20^th goal at 7:58. Posthumus scored on a rebound after Stevenson’s point shot was kicked out to him at the side of the net.

Stone put Penticton ahead for the first time late in the middle frame. The rookie defenceman scored from the slot after Anselmo Rego hit him with a drop pass as he was coming downhill. Stone’s third of the year came at 17:59 to put the Vees up 2-1.

In the third, McKamey scored twice in five minutes to stretch the lead to 4-1. First, he scored his sixth of the season at the two-minute mark that made it 3-1. McKamey found the rebound off the goalie’s blocker and quickly scored on a backhand on the stick side. Then, he scored his seventh goal of the season at 7:05 after a three-on-two rush. Max Heise started the play by dishing the puck over to Caton Ryan, who then found McKamey in front for the easy tap in.

Blackfalds put together a valiant comeback attempt in the final three minutes. Joey Melo scored on a Bulldogs’ power play at 17:02 that made it a 4-2 game. Then, with their goalie pulled, Blackfalds pulled within one on a goal by Noah Mertz at 19:29.

However, the Vees weathered the late flurry by the Bulldogs and hung on for the two points.

GAME NOTES

Saturday was McKamey’s first multi-goal game of the season, and his first two goals since December 14^th. Luke Posthumus has now scored in three straight games and has four goals over that span. The Vees improved their league-best road record to 15-5-0-0. Penticton swept the season series with Blackfalds, winning all four games.

GAME STATS 

Shots: Vees- 37 Bulldogs-19

Scoring: Eli McKamey (6^th, 7^th), Luke Posthumus (20^th), Callum Stone (3^rd)

Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W), 60:00, 16/19

Vees Power Play: 0/2

Vees Penalty Kill: 3/4

Three Stars:

1) Caton Ryan (3A)

2) Joey Melo (1G)

3) Eli McKamey (2G)

Up Next: Friday, January 31^st vs. Cowichan Valley, 7:00 pm PST.