The Cranbrook Bucks went the distance with the Penticton Vees Saturday in a 2-1 shootout loss.
First period action was a stalemate, both goalies were on their games. The Bucks had the shots edge at 10-5 through the opening frame, and the two teams brought a 0-0 tie into the second period.
The Bucks were able to break the scoreless deadlock near the sixteen-minute mark of the middle frame, Rhys Bentham utilized a screen in front of the Penticton goalie to score on a well-placed point shot to give Cranbrook a 1-0 lead. Cranbrook’s lead maintained up to intermission.
The Vees were able to pull even in the third period, Jaxon Neiuwendyk managed to slip a puck past Nathan Airey on a solo rush into the Bucks zone at 8:16 to tie the game 1-1. The score remained tied through regulation.
Both teams traded chances in 3-on-3 overtime, Jarrod Smith nearly put the game away in the early goings of the extra frame. Overtime solved nothing, the game went to a shootout – the Vees were able to win in five rounds to secure a 2-1 win.
Saturday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 25-10-1-1, they’re second in the Interior Conference standings.
The Bucks return to action Friday versus the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Buck Tracks:
- Bucks goalie Nathan Airey stops 42 of 43 shots.
- 10 goals on the season for Rhys Bentham, first Bucks defenceman to reach double digits for goals in a season.
