Coming off an impressive 6-2 win over the Express, the Eagles take their aggressive style of play the Interior Division Penticton Vees who currently sit in 2nd place.
Through 25 games they have 33 points (15-7-1-1) while the Eagles have 15 points through 29 (7-21-0-1) as they look wrap up the third month.
Not only do the Eagles face the Vees, they meet up and play against former “Bench Boss” Brandon West, Assistant Coach with the Vees who has fond memories with his former team.
Following the impressive winning record for Bailey gets the call between the pipes again who has a GAA of 3.48 through 14 games, while the Vees start Jack LaFontaine who has a GAA of 2.05 through 18 games.
While the Eagles continue to attack the net, let’s not forget that the Eagles have key players out of the roster, in hopes of hitting the ice again this coming Saturday against the same Penticton Vees.
The Eagles found themselves in penalty trouble in the first being nabbed three times, all minors while also being out-shot by a 13-6 margin through 20 minutes.
The second started with much more aggressive play with Fortems being assessed a minor for boarding at 3:32 followed by a minor altercation between Gurney and Rizzo with both being assessed minors for Roughing After the Whistle.
This was followed by a PP marker as the Vees jumped out to a 3-0 lead at 4:08, but the Eagles had several chances, but the Vees got another at 18:13 jumping out to a 4-0 lead after two.
Bailey faced 9 shots through two turning aside 7, while the Vees LaFontaine faced only 5 in the mid frame and 11 through two that saw each team tagged with six minors.
Speculation is that the Eagles would rebound in the third managing more shots, not just at the net, but on net jumping on any and all rebounds in hopes of getting one or more behind LaFontaine.
The third started with the Eagles on the PP an early 15 seconds in which was short-lived with Eagles Smith getting tagged for tripping 1:06 later, nullifying the Eagles PP attack.
Penticton pressed and continued to throw pucks at the net managing to get their fifth of the game by 6:41 of the third, but the Eagles continued to press only to come up short.
By the 12:06 mark the game became somewhat physical for both teams, with each being assessed additional minors.
The Vees got another on the board at 12:19 having many thinking they would pull off a shutout for LaFontaine, but any chance of this were soon diminished as Katzalay collected his 8th of the season with one lone helper to Prior in this contest.
The Eagles came up short as the Vees out shot the visiting Eagles by a 38-20 margin that saw the Vees manage 2-7 on the PP while the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the PP going 0-5 through 60 minutes of play.
A rough game for the “Boy’s” as they return home to face the same Penticton Vees Saturday night at 7 on home ice in hopes of rebounding.
FortisBC Energy Player Of The Game
Mathew Byrne (0G/)A)
Three Stars:
1st) Jackson Niedermayer (1G/0A)
2nd) Cole Shepard (1G/1A)
3rd) Massimo Rizzo (1G/1A)
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