On the back of a penalty kill that went a perfect seven-for-seven, the Penticton Vees defeated the Victoria Royals 5-2 at the SOEC on Saturday night. 

The Vees climb to 34-11-4-4 on the season with the win and are just one win away from tying the Everett Silvertips for most wins in an expansion season by a WHL club. 

It was a slow start for Penticton who were outshot 13-4 in the opening frame. 

The Royals struck first with Seth Fryer bouncing home the opening goal making it 1-0 after the opening 20. 

The Vees killed off a 1:54 five-on-three and got to work in the second. 

Jacob Kvasnicka rifled his 32nd of the season off the post and in on the powerplay to bring the Vees back even 1-1. 

Then, Brady Birnie collected a bouncing puck in the slot and ripped home his 20th of the season. For Birnie he has 20 goals in three straight years. Diego Johnson scored 24 seconds later to give the Vees a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. 

The Royals got back within one as Roan Woodward ripped a shot under the crossbar to make the score 3-2. 

The Vees would answer as Kvasnicka saucered a pass to Tristan Petersen who then put it off the bar and then the back of Ethan Eskit and into the net to make it 4-2. 

Kvasnicka would finish off his three point night with a full-length empty netter to make the final score 5-2.  

 

 

 

GAME STATS

Shots:

Vees- 29

Royals- 23

 

Scoring:

Vees- Jacob Kvasnicka (2), Brady Birnie, Diego Johnson, Tristan Petersen

Royals- Seth Fryer, Roan Woodward

 

Power Plays:

Vees- 1/3

Royals- 0/7

 

Goaltending:

Vees- AJ Reyelts – 21/23

Royals- Ethan Eskit – 24/28

 

Up Next: The Vees host the Prince George Cougars for a 2:00PM puck drop on Family Day Monday (Feb. 16).