Game Recap: Brooks edge Vees in series opener
Photo: Cherie Morgan
Penticton, BC – The Penticton Vees dropped their Interior Conference opener, losing 2-1 to the Brooks Bandits, Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Friday’s loss ended the Vees’ eight-game win streak through the first two rounds of the BCHL Playoffs, as it was their first loss since March 29th.
Defenceman Callum Stone scored the Vees’ only goal, in the third, as the Vees made a push in the final 20 minutes but ultimately came up a goal short.
Will Ingemann was tagged with the loss in net but was sharp stopping 22 of 23 shots and was named the second star.
Brooks’ goaltender Zach Zahara was excellent, as he stopped 30 shots and was the first star.
After a scoreless first period, Brooks scored twice in the second, early and late, as they led 2-0 through two. Parker Lalonde opened the scoring just 41 seconds into the second, after his shot beat Ingemann on the stick side from the right wing.
Nathan Brown then was credited with the Bandits’ second goal with 2:46 left in the period, after Michael Liśćinsky’s pass from the wall went off both Stone and Brown before trickling in.
Penticton had their chances in the second, including Luke Posthumus hitting the post when the game was still just 1-0 for Brooks.
The Vees finally got on the scoreboard midway through the third, as Stone scored off a face-off in the Bandits’ zone. Penticton won the face-off back to blue line and Stone’s knuckleball of a shot found its way through traffic and over Zahara at 12:44 to cut the deficit down to one. Stone scoring in back-to-back games.
Penticton then pulled their goalie with two minutes left in regulation but couldn’t manufacture an equalizer, as their last shot before time expired was blocked in front of the Brooks’ net.
The Vees will look to level the series tomorrow at home in Game Two at 6:00 pm.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 31 Bandits- 23
Scoring: Callum Stone (1)
Goaltending: Will Ingemann (L), 57:50, 21/23
Vees Power Play: 0/3
Vees Penalty Kill: 0/3
Three Stars:
1) Zach Zahara (30 SVS)
2) Will Ingemann (21 SVS)
3) Parker Lalonde (1G)
Next Game: Saturday, May 3rd, vs. Brooks Bandits, 6:00 pm, SOEC.