Submitted by Fraser Rodgers
The Penticton Vees gas tank ran dry Sunday in Port Alberni as they were shutout 3-0 by the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Weyerhaeuser Arena in their third and final game of a three-game road trip.
Bulldogs (24-20-2-3) goaltender Billy Christopoulos was superb in net stopping all 37 shots the Vees threw his way as he picked up his second career BCHL shutout.
Brendan Barry was very good in the loss for the Vees (38-8-3-2). He stopped 27 of 29 shots and only suffered his second loss in his young BCHL career.
After a scoreless two periods, it took just 10 seconds for the Bulldogs to break the scoreless deadlock in the third period. Right off the opening face-off, the Vees turned the puck over at their blue line and Chris Schutz broke in alone and beat Barry on the blocker side for the icebreaker.
The Bulldogs forced another turnover minutes later and doubled their lead after Dylan Haugen banked the puck in off a Vees defencemen.
The Vees pushed to get on the scoreboard but Christopoulos was there time and again to thwart their attack. The Vees even pulled their goaltender early in the third period while on the power-play in attempt to generate a spark.
The best chance the Vees had was on one of their third period power-plays but Patrick Newell was robbed at the side of the net as Christopoulos made an eye-popping glove save.
Josh Adkins sealed the Bulldogs second consecutive win with an empty-net goal at 19:37 of the third.
The Vees split their three-game weekend road trip going 1-1-1-0. The Vees opened the trip with a 3-2 double overtime win against the Chilliwack Chiefs on a goal by Gabe Bast. The Vees then battled Powell River to a 3-3 draw.
The Vees are now 5-2-1-1 against the Island Division with games left against Nanaimo and Alberni Valley at home this month.
