The Penticton Vees pushed the Prince George Spruce Kings to the brink of elimination on Monday night, April 18, winning the series’ third game 5-3 and taking a 3-0 series lead in the B.C. Hockey League’s Interior Conference Semifinals.
Five different goal scorers and a three-assist performance from Luc Wilson propelled the Vees to a road victory in the best-of-seven series.
Penticton has now won seven straight games since losing to the Trail Smoke Eaters in Game No. 1 of the playoffs’ first round on March 31.
With a win on Tuesday night, April 19, in the series’ fourth game, the Vees will advance to the Interior Conference Finals.
Goaltender Kaeden Lane made 32 saves in Game No. 3 and denied Prince George from tying the game late in the third period when the Vees were clinging to a 4-3 lead.
An empty-net marker from Josh Nadeau with less than a minute to play extended Penticton’s lead to 5-3, solidifying the Vees’ third win of the series.
Casey McDonald, Thomas Pichette, Josh Niedermayer and Adam Eisele also found the back of the net on Monday night to help the Vees take a commanding series lead.
Niedermayer’s goal, in particular, was scored with just 28 seconds to play in the second period to give his team a 3-2 advantage entering the game’s final period.
A little over 1,000 people were in attendance at Prince George’s Rolling Mix Concrete Arena to watch the Vees take a 3-0 series lead.
Penticton can put an end to the second-round showdown on Tuesday, April 19 in Prince George.
The Vees have yet to lose a game on the road during the 2022 BCHL playoffs.
Puck drop for the series’ fourth game is at 7 p.m. Fans can listen on Bounce Radio 800 or watch on BCHL TV.
READ MORE: Penticton Vees start semi-finals series off with 2 wins
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