Submitted by Fraser Rodgers
You can forgive the Penticton Vees for not being keen on visiting Salmon Arm any time soon. For the second time in as many games this season, the Silverbacks beat the Vees at home, skating to a 5-2 win on Friday night at the Shaw Centre.
The Vees are now winless in two trips, 90 days apart. The five goals is the most the Vees have given up this season and they’ve been outscored 9-4 by the ‘Backs in two games.
Carson Bolduc scored twice, while Colton Thibault, Chase Zieky and Elijiah Barriga each scored once. Scott Conway scored both Vees goals as he extended his point streak in a losing effort.
Bolduc scored the first two goals without taking a direct shot at the net. His first, 25-seconds into a power-play, went off of Zach Driscoll’s stick and through his legs, after Bolduc fired the puck from the right wing goalline.
Then, with less than half a minute remaining in the first, Bolduc doubled the ‘Backs lead from behind the goal line. The puck ended up kicking off the stanchion, deflecting back out front, and then off the back of Driscoll’s leg at the post, before dribbling across the line.
Anthony Brodeur came into start the second period after Driscoll surrendered two goals on seven shots in 20 minutes.
Conway got the Vees on the scoreboard just under five minutes into the middle frame. The 20-year-old came out from behind the net and roofed a backhand at 4:46; his team-leading 26th.
The Silverbacks then scored two goals in 42 seconds. Trailing 4-1 Conway gave the Vees some life in third when he cut the deficit to two just shy of the nine-minute mark. Easton Brodzinski found Conway out front and went top corner for his 27th at 8:58.
Conway’s two goals extended his BCHL-best point streak to 29-games, which dates back to Sep. 16. Nic Jones had his five-game point streak come to an end.
The Vees (28-3-1-0) return home tomorrow, to host the Silverbacks (20-8-2-1) in the back half of this weekend home-and-home set; face-off is 6pm.