Game Recap: Vees’ special teams carries them to Game Three win over Surrey
Photo: Cherie Morgan
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees grabbed their first lead of the Fred Page Cup Final with their 3-1 win over the Surrey Eagles in Game Three, Tuesday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees lead the best-of-seven BCHL Final 2-1, with Game Four set for tomorrow in Penticton.
Penticton got out to a great start, as Cade Littler and Zack Stringer scored in the first 10 minutes of the game, to put the Vees up 2-0.
Littler opened the scoring at 6:25, as he cashed in on a rebound in front of the Eagles’ net. Anselmo Rego was stopped but Littler was there to toss a backhand over Surrey goaltender Ajeet Gundarah. His first goal of the series.
#Flames prospect Cade Littler opens the scoring in Game 3! He buries the rebound on the doorstep and it’s 1-0 Penticton early.
@Fraser_Vees #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/uAAYnMhP9I
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) May 22, 2024
Stringer doubled the Vees lead on a snipe from the right-wing. Stringer took a drop pass from Thomas Pichette and fired a laser of a wrist shot over the goalie’s shoulder. Stringer’s fifth of the postseason put the Vees up a pair at 10:43.
Ice-level view of Zack Stringer’s absolute SNIPE! #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/wFU1t2sIdy
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) May 22, 2024
“After the first period, we joked with Stringer asking why he was holding out on us with a shot like that. He was very good tonight and that goal he had was an unbelievable release,” commented Vees’ Director of Hockey Operations, Matt Miller.
It was a scoreless second period, but the Vees’ penalty kill was excellent in the middle frame. Penticton went 4-4 on the PK in the middle frame, as they kept the league’s best power play off the scoresheet.
“Probably start with the penalty kill. We killed eight minutes of penalties in the second period against the best power play in the league. Our penalty killers kept Surrey to the outside, blocked a lot of shots, and when needed, [Will] Ingemann was there to shut the door,” said Miller.
Penticton then used their special teams to pad their lead in the third. Callum Arnott scored seven seconds into a Vees’ power play to make it 3-0 just over three minutes into the final period. Arnott hammered a one-timer from the right circle over the goalie’s stick side at 3:21.
It’s a 3-0 game in the 3rd period thanks to Callum Arnott’s powerplay goal! Penticton continues to lead Surrey in Game 3.
@Fraser_Vees #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/0mrxbUfQbS
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) May 22, 2024
Surrey spoiled Will Ingemann’s shutout bid with a goal late. With the goalie pulled, the Eagles’ Micah Berger tapped in a pass from inside the crease to make it 3-1 at 16:20.
That’s as close as the Eagles would get, as Penticton shutdown their comeback attempt in the final three and a half minutes.
GAME STATS
Shots: Eagles- 26 Vees- 24
Vees Scoring: Littler (2), Stringer (5), Arnott (8)
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann 60:00 25/26 (W)
Power-Plays:
Vees: 1/2
Eagles: 0/4
Three Stars:
1) Cade Littler (1G)
2) James Fisher (2A)
3) Callum Arnott (1G)
Next Game: Wednesday, May 22, Game Four at the SOEC; puck drop 7:00 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors. Youth 18 and under get in free, courtesy of Peters’ Bros. Construction.