Jason Stefanek scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season in overtime and the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters edged the BCHL-best Penticton Vees 4-3 at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Feb. 14.
Stefanek's winner came after Smoke Eaters 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.
Christian Kim also scored for Trail (30-8-2-1), which sits one point behind Penticton for first place in the Interior Conference and BCHL overall. Goaltender Ryan Parker was named the game's second star after making a whopping 49 saves.
Trail has won 15 games in a row.
The Vees, who entered Friday's affair after losing to the Smoke Eaters 4-1 on Feb. 8, used two goals from captain Conyr Hellyer.
Montreal Canadiens draft pick Ben Merrill also found the back of the net for Penticton (30-7-4-0). Will Ingemann made 27 saves.
The Vees have lost three straight games, including an overtime loss last weekend to Vernon when they squandered a two-goal lead late in the third period.
After a scoreless first period, Hellyer scored for the Vees to make it 1-0. It marked his first goal since Nov. 15.
Trail was quick to reply, notching two consecutive goals in three minutes to take its first lead of the game.
Merrill made it 2-2 at 12:50 of the middle frame before Hellyer scored his second of the night early in the third period to restore Penticton's lead.
Sinclair forced overtime at 18:17 of the third period. Murray made four of his 49 saves for Trail in the extra frame before Stefanek's winner.
Up next
The Vees play the second of a three-game weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15, when visit the Vernon at Kal Tire Place. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
Second-place Trail, meanwhile, hosts Salmon Arm. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
