Game Four Preview: Vees at Brooks Bandits
Photo: Matt Piotrowski
Author: Fraser Rodgers
SERIES
Game 1: Friday, May 2nd, Brooks 2 at Penticton 1
Game 2: Saturday, May 3rd, Brooks 3 at Penticton 0
Game 3: Monday, May 5th, Penticton 6 at Brooks 0
Game 4: Tuesday, May 6th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT
Game 5: Friday, May 9th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT
Game 6: Monday, May 12th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT*
Game 7: Tuesday, May 13th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT*
*If necessary
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2025 Playoffs Record: 11 GP 9-2
Home: 4-2
Away: 5-0
GF: 42
GA: 17
Power Play: (9/42) 21.4%, 7th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (2/28) 92.9%, 1st BCHL
Scoring Leader: Max Heise (4-10-11)
The Penticton Vees picked up their first win of the series on Monday, with their 6-0 shutout in Game Three. A win tonight and the series is tied, making it a best-of-three finish with Game Five back in Penticton on Friday.
It was a dream start to Game Three for Penticton, with Matthew Biotti scoring just 23 seconds into the game. Penticton is now 9-0 in the playoffs when they score first. The second period was as important too, as the Vees scored three times to pull away. That second period push was huge, as the Vees were just a plus two in goal differential in the middle period in the playoffs. Before last night, the Vees were outscored 3-0 in the second in this series.
Big Game Three from Ryden Evers who scored and had three points. That was exactly the game they needed from one of their top forwards. Before last night, Evers had just one goal in his previous nine games. Despite the dry spell, he was playing well, but he now asserted himself in this series. Evers had instant chemistry with Max Heise and Caton Ryan on a new look top line.
Defenceman Michael Fisher also had a strong night. The now 21-year-old had a goal and two assists. Good to see Fisher make an impact after missing most of the first and second round with injuries.
Now, the Vees look to do it again. A massive Game Four is on deck. Tonight’s results can swing the series in two dramatically different directions. A Vees win, and it’s 2-2 going back to Penticton for Game Five. A loss, and their down 3-1 facing a must win on Friday.
Penticton is 5-0 in the playoffs on the road and have won two of three games in Brooks this season. The road team is 3-0 in this series, outscoring the home team 11-1. Can the Vees keep that trend going tonight?
Brooks Bandits
General Manager & Head Coach: Ryan Papaioannou
2024-25 Record: 12 GP, 10-2
Home: 4-2
Away: 6-0
GF: 45
GA: 30
Power Play: (12/47) 25.5%, 4th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (9/57) 84.2%, 3rd BCHL
Scoring Leader: Parker Lalonde (9-6-15)
The Bandits had their 10-game win streak snapped by the Vees last night. Before last night, Brooks had not lost since April 4th, opening night of Round One against West Kelowna.
Last night was the first time in the playoffs the Bandits have given up six goals in a game. It was also just the second time Zach Zahara had surrendered six goals in a start. The only other time was February 1st, against Penticton.
Game Three was the first shutout loss for Brooks in both the playof
Brooks is 4-2 at home in the playoffs and were 20-7 in the regular season at Centennial Regional Arena. It’s a tough place to try and take back-to-back wins out of for any road team.
Bandits’ forward Nathan Brown has been suspended for two games for his five-minute checking from behind major penalty last night. He won’t be eligible to return until a potential Game Six on May 12th.