Game Recap: Vees beat Bucks 5-3, lead series 3-0
Photo: Martin Ross
Cranbrook, BC – The Penticton Vees are one win away from the Interior Conference Final, after their 5-3 win over the Cranbrook Bucks, Wednesday night at Western Financial Place.
The Vees now lead the best-of-seven series 3-0, with Game Four Thursday in Cranbrook.
Simon Meier scored twice Wednesday and his line with Ryden Evers and Tristan Petersen combined for six points. Petersen, Oscar Pantzare, and Luke Posthumus also scored for Penticton. Evers and Ben Merrill each had two assists.
Will Ingemann improved his record to 4-0 in the playoffs after he stopped 19 of 22 shots.
WHAT A SNIPE FROM THE SWISS NATIVE
Simon Meier opens up the scoring in game 3 with an unreal shot!
@Fraser_Vees | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/qCA1fkokew
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 24, 2025
Meier and Pantzare got the Vees out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period. Meier opened the scoring at 6:21 with his fifth of the playoffs. Meier roofed his shot short side from the left wing. Then, Pantzare scored his first at 8:24 after a knuckling shot from the point found its way in.
Cranbrook pushed back in the second, scoring twice to erase a 2-0 deficit. Blake Cotton and Shane Baker scored for the Bucks to level the game 2-2, but it didn’t stay tied for long.
Petersen put Penticton back ahead 80 seconds after Cranbrook had tied it. Petersen banked the puck off the goalie and in from side of the net at 18:48. His first goal in four games put the Vees up 3-2 heading into the third.
In the third period, Posthumus added, at the time, an insurance marker just after a Vees’ power play had expired. His fifth of the playoffs came six seconds after a power play, as he scored at 6:17 to make it 4-2.
The Bucks didn’t go away quietly, as Smauel Lyne cut the Vees’ lead back down to one midway through the final frame, as his goal t 9:35 made it 4-3.
Penticton held on and sealed the win with an empty net goal credited to Meier 54 seconds left in regulation. Meier had his shot stopped but referees awarded Meier with his second goal of the game, after a Bucks’ player threw his stick at the puck.
The Vees are now 3-0 on the road in the playoffs. Penticton has also won four-straight games in Cranbrook dating back to the 2023-24 season. Ben Merril now has four points (1G, 3A) in the first three games of the series.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 38 Bucks- 22
Scoring: Simon Meier (5, 6), Oscar Pantzare (1), Tristan Petersen (3), Luke Posthumus (5)
Goaltending: Will Ingemann(W)- 60:00, 19/22
Vees Power Play: 0/1
Vees Penalty Kill: 1/1
Three Stars:
1) Shane Baker (1G)
2) Simon Meier (2G)
3) Luke Posthumus (1G)
Next Game: Thursday, April 24th, 6:00 pm PDT, Game Four vs. Cranbrook Bucks