The Penticton Vees used Charlie Michaud’s first WHL goal to slip past the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 of the WHL playoffs at the SOEC. 

The second-seed Vees opened the scoring on Friday night on the powerplay as Brady Birnie wrapped a puck past Marek Sklenicka to make it 1-0.

Noah Kosick evened it 1-1 heading into the first intermission. 

The Vees would re-gain the lead in the second with Ryden Evers springing Jacob Kvasnicka on a breakaway, who finished it off on the backhand, to make the score 2-1.  

The Thunderbirds would battle back again, jamming the puck past Vees goaltender AJ Reyelts to make the score 2-2 after 40 minutes. 

There was no scoring in the third sending Game 1 to overtime.

The Vees were able to kill an OT penalty and then off a scramble Ethan Weber found Charlie Michaud at the top of the dots and he rifled home the puck for his first WHl goal and giving the Vees a 3-2 overtime victory. 

 

GAME STATS

Shots:

Vees- 45

Thunderbirds- 27

 

Scoring:

Vees- Brady Birnie, Jacob Kvasnicka, Charlie Michaud

Thunderbirds- Noah Kosick, Antonio Martorana

 

Power Plays:

Vees- 1/4

Thunderbirds- 0/4

 

Goaltending:

Vees- AJ Reyelts – 25/27

Thunderbirds- Marek Sklenicka – 42/45

 

Up Next: The Vees and Thunderbirds are right back at it Saturday for Game 2 at the SOEC. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00PM.