Game Recap: Vees start weekend off with 5-2 win in Cranbrook
Photo: Martin Ross
Cranbrook, BC – The Penticton Vees extended their win streak to five games with their 5-2 win over Cranbrook Bucks, Friday night at Western Financial Place. The Vees also extended their point streak to 11 games (9-0-2-0) in the process.
With the win, the Vees are three points away from clinching not only the Interior Conference regular season title, but also three points shy of capturing the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy, as BCHL regular season champions.
“I was proud of our team’s effort. Right from this morning and into the game they had the right attitude, demeanor about them. You could see the buy in from our group and most importantly they executed when it mattered,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
The line of Simon Meier, Tristan Petersen, and Ryden Evers combined for seven points in the win. Meier had a team-best three points (1G, 2A), and Petersen (1G, 1A) and Evers (2A) each had two-point nights.
Five different players scored for the Vees, including birthday boy Luke Posthumus. After a scoreless first period, Posthumus, Meier, and Brock Reinhart all scored in the second, as the Vees got out to a 3-0 lead. Reinhart and Meier scored just six seconds apart. Petersen and Caton Ryan scored in the third.
Will Ingemann matched his win total from last season with his 19-save effort on Friday. Ingeman now has 22 wins on the season, which is tied for the most in the BCHL.
Posthumus, celebrating his 20th birthday, opened the scoring 2:29 into the second period after his shot from the side of the net was banked in off Cranbrook goalie Jaden Cholette. Posthumus’ first goal since February 22nd put Penticton up 1-0. Then, in a blink of an eye, the Vees were up by three.
Reinhart and Meier scored just six seconds apart to put the Vees up 3-0 seven minutes into the second. First, Reinhart’s point shot found its way through at 7:13 that doubled the Vees lead to 2-0. On the very next shift, Meier scored his 8th goal after he was set up on a pass out from behind the net by Petersen.
Matthew Gilmore and Rasmus Svartström scored to put the Bucks back with in goal, after the two scored late in the second and midway through the third, respectively. Gilmore’s goal came at 14:40 of the second, which made it 3-1. Svartström then scored at the side of the goal in the third period at 9:02 which cut the Vees’ lead down to 3-2.
Petersen put the game outreach with his fourth goal of the season at 15:41. A great rush down the wing by Petersen was finished off with him putting his backhand deke through the goalie’s pads. Caton Ryan scored into the empty net with less than 30 seconds, which made it 5-2.
GAME NOTES
Reinhart’s goal was not only his fourth but first since December 29th, against Okotoks. Penticton won their league-leading 20th road game of the season on Friday. Penticton is now 3-0 against Cranbrook, with the season series concluding next Friday, March 28th, in Penticton.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 26 Bucks-21
Scoring: Luke Posthumus (24), Brock Reinhart (4), Simon Meier (8), Tristan Petersen (4), Caton Ryan (13)
Goaltending: Will Ingemann- 60:00, 19/21, 2 GA
Vees Power Play: 0/1
Vees Penalty Kill: 1/1
Three Stars:
1) Tristan Petersen (1G, 1A)
2) Matthew Gilmore (1G)
3) Simon Meier (1G, 2A)
Up Next: The Vees (39-7-5-0) at Okotoks Oilers (21-27-3-0), Saturday, March 22nd, 6:05 pm PT