Penticton Vees captain Brad McClure opened the scoring against the West Kelowna Warriors with his 29th goal of the season, but it was the Vees' only offence in a 3-1 loss.
A crowd of 1,845 at the South Okanagan Events Centre, that included a small contingent of Warriors fans, watched as the Warriors scored three unanswered goals on 15 shots in the second period to win the first of a home-and-home battle.
Carl Hesler evened the score 1:32 into the second period. Seven minutes later, Adam Osczevski scored the winning goal. Hesler's second of the game with less than three minutes remaining in the second proved to be the insurance marker.
Vees goalie Hunter Miska was chased after he allowed three goals on 22 shots. Olivier Mantha relieved him in the third period and turned aside all six shots he faced. Warriors goalie Andy Desautels made 19 saves for the win. He was kept busy in the opening period in which the Vees fired nine shots his direction.
The loss snaps the Vees' eight-game winning streak and they will look to end 2013 with a win against the Warriors at Royal LePage Place Saturday evening.