Hunter Miska did everything but score the game-winner, as the Penticton Vees played to a rare 2-2 tie with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday night.
Miska stopped 34 shots, including a Chase Priskie penalty shot in double-overtime, as the Vees ran their undefeated streak to four games. With just 22 seconds left in the three-on-three period, Miles Gendron was called for hooking Priskie in the Vees end. BCHL rules state any penalty in double-overtime is an automatic penalty-shot.
The Vees puck-stopper didn’t bite on the fake slap-shot and forced the Silverbacks defenceman to bobble the puck.
Salmon Arm’s Brenden Wagner forced overtime when he tied the game early in the third period. Wagner forced a turnover on the wall and walked into the right circle, before beating Miska on the blocker side at 6:25.
The Vees carried at 2-1 lead into the third period after Dakota Conroy and Salmon Arm’s Phil Middleton traded power-play markers. Conroy doubled the Vees lead early in the second on the team’s first power-play.
Conroy’s attempted pass across the crease took a deflection off the defenceman’s leg and past Angus Redmond at 2:13 to put the Vees up by a pair; Conroy’s fifth.
Middleton cut the Vees lead in half midway through the middle period on a Silverbacks man-advantage. Middleton’s point-shot appeared to hit a Vees defender before trickling through Miska’s legs at 10:36. Middleton’s fourth triggered the Silverbacks Teddy Bear Toss.
Lewis Zerter-Gossage had the Vees ahead after the first period. Late in the opening period he danced his way around a defender on the left wing and then undressed Redmond on a great deke for his 12th at 18:29; his second in the last three games.
Friday’s tie was the Vees first since last season against the Langley Rivermen 1-1 on Oct. 19, 2013; 76 regular season games between draws. The Vees record now stands at 26-4-1-1, 13 points up on second-place Vernon.
The Vees are off Saturday before returning to the SOEC on Sunday afternoon, when they host the Chilliwack Chiefs in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game; puck drop is 3pm.