The Penticton Vees are on a winning streak, besting the Prince George Spruce Kings in a shootout last night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
It was Jack Lagerstrom who first put the Vees on the board, sending a one-timer from the blue line through traffic and past a screened Logan Neaton. Massimo Rizzo and Ty Pochipinski picked up assists on the goal.
Carson Kosobud also took a shot from the line which was deflected, but Pochipinski jumped on the rebound to score his first goal as a Vee with 4:15 remaining in the first. At the end of the period shots read 11-9 for Penticton.
The Vees ran into the some penalty trouble in the second, giving up three power plays for the Spruce Kings to take advantage of. The shots tallied 18-7 for Prince George, with their last one beating Jack LaFontaine when Patrick Cozzi flew down the right wing with seconds remaining in the period.
Cozzi faked to his backhand, pulling it back to his forehand and lifting it over LaFontaine’s glove on the last second of the second period.
The Spruce Kings were able to keep the game close, tying the score at 3:27 in the third thanks to Chong Min Lee who took advantage of a scramble in the crease and a loose puck to beat LaFontaine glove side. The rest of the period would see the Vees on their heels for long stretches but LaFontaine held is ground and kept the score tied, pushing the game into overtime.
Lukas Sillinger came close to scoring during this extra time when he moved around a defender to cut to the front of the net. He managed to fire his shot while falling down but the puck found the right pad of Logan Neaton rather than the back of the net.
The first two shooters of the shootout were denied, but Luke Loheit was able to fire a shot over Neaton’s blocker. LaFontaine stepped up and blocked Ben Brar and Nick Poisson, sealing the Vees’ victory.
This win puts the Penticton Vees atop the division to five points and the team now heads to Merritt for the final time this season on Jan. 20. Puck drops at 6 p.m. at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
Jordyn Thomson | Reporter
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