The Penticton Vees (2-3-0) saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit in the span of 16 seconds as the Prince George Spruce Kings (5-1-0) handed Penticton their first ever loss at the Bauer BCHL Showcase.
Former Vees player Ben Brar opened the scoring for the Spruce Kings as he intercepted a clearing attempt up the boards before skating to the right face-off circle and firing a wrist shot past a screened Jack LaFontaine 4:45 into the game.
AUDIO: Hear from @SpruceKings forward Ben Brar after his two-goal performance in a 3-2 win over Penticton at the #BCHLShowcasehttps://t.co/3tNY8MwLwU
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) September 22, 2018
Ryan Sandelin evened the score just over 10 minutes later. Ryan Miotto gathered a loose puck on the right wing boards before skating down the slot and letting a backhand shot go. Sandelin was parked in front and deflected the shot under Logan Neaton’s arm for his third of the year.
Related: Rookie Penticton Vees player Niedermayer following in his father’s skates
The score stayed the same through 40 minutes of play with the Spruce Kings leading on the shot clock 20-14.
The Vees came out flying in the third and would end up outshooting Prince George 16-6 through the final 20 minutes. David Silye gave the Vees the lead for the first time after intercepting a pass by the Spruce Kings and coming in on a partial break.
Silye fired a wrist shot over the glove of Neaton for his fourth of the season in just five games, giving the Vees a 2-1 lead. It would be short-lived however, as Prince George was given the first power play of the game less than three minutes later.
Just six seconds into the power play, Brar fired a wrist shot past the blocker of LaFontaine to tie the game. Off the ensuing faceoff Prince George would take the lead.
Ben Brar scores his 2nd of the game and 7th of the season on the man advantage to tie the game at 2. pic.twitter.com/hjv3VoDirl
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) September 22, 2018
After a two on two rush was broken up, the puck was slowly sliding towards LaFontaine. He attempted to redirect the puck into the corner with his stick, but it went off the leg of Nick Poisson and into the net to give Prince George the 3-2 lead.
The Vees turned the pressure on, including going to a power play of their own, but were unable to solve Neaton again as Prince George held on for the 3-2 win.
Penticton is next in action Friday night when the travel to Merritt to play the Centennials. The home opener at the South Okanagan Events Centre is the following night at 6 p.m. against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
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