The Penticton Vees put a stranglehold on the series as they took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Vees, in their black jerseys with blue and white trim, came out flat in the first ten minutes of the game. Yaniv Perets held the fort making point-blank save after save to keep the game at zero until the Vees got their legs going.
Colton Kalezic wristed one past Warriors goalie Johnny Derrick at the 9:15 minute mark of the opening frame and the Vees took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Colton Kalezic zips a shot low to the glove side for his 1st of the series and the Vees lead the Warriors 1-0 after one period! SOG 14-12 Penticton after 20 minutes#BCHLPlayoffs #PaintItBlue pic.twitter.com/PQuxSxWN8u
— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) March 1, 2020
The second frame started with a give-and-go between Jay O’Brien and Lukas Sillinger. O’Brien finished the play, going blocker side to give the Vees a 2-0 lead. Another two goals 51 seconds apart from Danny Weight put the lead at four, until Warriors forward Carter Wilkie cut the deficit to three. Despite giving up that goal, the Vees were up 4-1 after 40 minutes.
The third period was filled with a total of six goals, five of which came from Pentiction, including O’Brien picking up his team leading fifth goal of the playoffs. Tyler Ho, who scored a shorthanded hat trick in game two, found himself on a breakaway again shorthanded, but was stopped. However, Ho was hooked and the referee awarded a penalty shot where he tucked the puck in the net to finish the game 9-2.
VEES WIN!!
A five-goal 3rd period puts an exclamation point on a 9-2 victory over the @BCHLWarriors in Game #3 of the Interior Division Quarter Final!#BCHLPlayoffs #PaintItBlue pic.twitter.com/fiBQ1WDBS3
— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) March 2, 2020
For the third straight game, the three stars of the game came from the Vees. First star O’Brien picked up a pair of assists along with his two goals. Second star Weight had two goals and third star Perets turned aside 24 shots.
The Vees look to end the series Tuesday night in game four at the Royal LePage Place. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm.
