After squandering a late third-period lead and falling in overtime to the Trail Smoke Eaters, the Penticton Vees beat their Highway 97 rivals in succession last weekend to remain atop the Interior Conference standings and BCHL overall.
Ryden Evers led the way offensively with one goal and three points for Penticton on Monday, Feb. 17, as the club held off the West Kelowna Warriors 5-4 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Will Ingemann made 20 saves, including seven in the third period, and Michael Fisher had two points.
The Vees' win on Family Day came two days after the team went to the North Okanagan and toppled the Vernon Vipers 5-2.
Evers, Penticton's leading scorer, had a goal and assist.
The Vees (32-7-4-0) are four points ahead of the second-place Brooks Bandits (31-9-0-2) in the conference.
In third place is Trail (30-9-2-1), which came back to beat Penticton on Friday night, Feb. 14, at the SOEC.
Jason Stefanek scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season in overtime as the visiting Smoke Eaters stunned the home team 4-3.
Stefanek's winner came after Trail forward Brayden Sinclair notched his second of the game with less than two minutes in the third period to tie the contest at 3-3.
It marked the second time in seven days the Vees surrendered a late lead in the final frame. On Feb. 7, the visiting Vipers came back from 2-0 down late in the third period before winning the contest in overtime.
Up next
After bouncing back with two wins against Vernon and West Kelowna, respectively, the Vees look to stay hot in Salmon Arm when they visit the Silverbacks on Friday, Feb. 21.
Penticton is back on the ice Saturday, Feb. 22, for another showdown with the Warriors at Royal LePage Place.
