Game Recap: Vees rally in third period in 4-3 win over Alberni Valley
Photo credit: Cherie Morgan
Penticton, BC – The Penticton Vees split their weekend home stand, after a 4-3 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The win came on the heels of Friday’s disappointing overtime loss to Spruce Grove, in a game the Vees were guilty of not putting forth a consistent effort. They had no such problem on Saturday.
Bold lineup decisions paid off for the Vees, who elected to only dress 11 forwards. The message was sent by the coaching staff, and it was heard loud and clear by the players.
“We needed a 60-minute effort, and we got one tonight. I liked our game through the first two periods, even though we were down by two. Their goalie was fantastic, but we knew if we kept with it the offence would come eventually and it all paid off in the end,” said Assistant General Manager Matthew Miller post-game.
For the second consecutive night, the Vees had to come back from a 3-1 third period deficit, but this time they saw it through for the full two points.
Max Heise led the comeback in the final frame, as he scored a pair of goals and finished with three points. Heise, who celebrated his 19th Birthday Wednesday, was named the game’s first star. Ryden Evers and Louie Wehmann also scored for Penticton. Caton Ryan and Michael Fisher each had a pair of assists.
Despite the renewed vigor, Penticton found themselves down 2-1 after 20 minutes and 3-1 five minutes into the middle frame. In the opening period, Wehmann put the Vees ahead at 4:18 after he batted in a fluttering rebound out of midair. His 10th made it 1-0.
The Bulldogs tied it on a goal from Wyatt Black at 7:38, after he picked the corner off the rush. Then Alberni Valley went ahead when Cole Bishop forced his shot through on the stick side of Vees’ starter Ethan Buenaventura at 17:46
Penticton came out strong in the second as they heavily outshot the Bulldogs 17-5, but Bulldogs’ goaltender Ryder Shea stood on his head. His performance bought enough time for Samuel Leonard to score five minutes into the middle frame, as Alberni went ahead 3-1. The Vees changed goalies after that third goal, as Will Ingemann came in relief of Buenaventura after surrendering three goals on nine shots.
To their credit, the Vees persisted and fashioned together another third period comeback. Heise scored his first of two in the period at 3:18 to make it 3-2. Ryan set up Heise with a great cross-ice pass off the rush. Penticton’s power play then took over the game.
Ryden Evers got the tying goal at 7:35, after another great setup by Ryan on a Vees’ power play. Ryan faked the one-timer, cut to the middle, then dished the puck back to an open Evers who had a gaping net for his 20th. The play all started on a silky backhand cross-ice pass by Heise.
The power play wasn’t done there either, as it cooked up the game-winner as well. After Alberni Valley was assed a four-minute spearing penalty, it was Heise scoring his team-leading 10th power play goal at 14:56 after he was the first to a rebound in the Bulldogs’ crease. That goal came with just four seconds left in the double minor.
In a strange turn of events late, Heise had a hat-trick goal taken back with just 22 seconds left in the game after video review.
GAME NOTES
Saturday was the Vees sixth win when trailing after two periods, the most out of any team in the BCHL this season. Caton Ryan has 11 points (4-7-11) in his last four games. Max Heise has five points (3-2-5) in his last two games. Louie Wehmann has three goals in the last four games.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 49 Bulldogs-15
Scoring: Max Heise (24, 25), Louie Wehmann (10), Ryden Evers (20)
Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W), 34:35, 6/6
Ethan Buenaventura, 25:25 6/9
Vees Power Play: 2/6
Vees Penalty Kill: 0/2
Three Stars:
1) Max Heise (2G, 1A)
2) Ryder Shea (45 SVS)
3) Caton Ryan (2A)
Up Next: The Vees (35-7-5-0) face the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday, March 7th, at 7:00 pm, at the SOEC.