Game Recap: Vees double up Warriors, extend win streak to four
Photo: Tami Quan
West Kelowna, BC – The Penticton Vees extended their win streak to four after their 4-2 win over the West Kelowna Warriors, Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.
The Vees grabbed four points on the road this weekend and nine out of a possible 10 points, as they finished off a stretch of five games in nine days. Penticton remains four points up on Brooks for top spot in the Interior Conference.
Saturday was the Vees’ second game in six days against the Warriors, after Penticton beat West Kelowna 5-4 on Family Day Monday.
“We didn’t have a strong start but credit West Kelowna for making things difficult in the first period. They were pressuring, hemming us in and clogging up lanes. I like how we came out in the second, started playing heavier, sustained pressure, and we built off from there. Our process continues to get better,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
The Vees have now won four of five games against the Warriors this season.
After a scoreless first, Louie Wehmann put the Vees ahead 1-0 at 4:30 of the second period. Luke Posthumus doubled Penticton’s lead with his power play goal at 7:19. His team-leading 23rd goal made it 2-0.
It stayed 2-0 for the Vees up until the opening minutes of the third period, when Jackson Kyrokostas got the Warriors on the scoresheet with his goal at 3:21. The Warriors forward squeezed his shot just through Buenaventura’s pads after a partial break.
Just over a minute later West Kelowna ran into penalty trouble and the Vees made it count.
Ryden Evers scored Penticton’s second power play goal at 5:54 after he pounced on a rebound in the crease. His 19th put the Vees’ up 3-1.
West Kelowna’s Elias Callgren cut the Vees’ lead to 3-2 after his shot fooled the Vees’ goaltender’s, hitting the top of Buenaventura’s glove before it went in.
GAME NOTES
With his three assists Saturday, Nolan Stevenson has recorded seven points, all assists, in his last three games. After being goalless in eight games, Louie Wehmann has now scored in back-to-back games. Caton Ryan has recorded six points (4G, 2A) in two games.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 30 Warriors- 30
Scoring: Louie Wehmann (9), Luke Posthumus (23), Ryden Evers (19), Caton Ryan (11)
Goaltending: Ethan Buenaventura (W), 28/30, 60:00
Vees Power Play: 2/3
Vees Penalty Kill: 2/2
Three Stars:
1) Nolan Stevenson (3A)
2) Jackson Kyrkostas (1G)
3) Caton Ryan (1G, 2A)
Up Next: The Vees (34-7-4-0) host the Spruce Grove Saints (16-21-5-0) at the SOEC on Friday, February 28th, at 7:00 pm.