Double OT heartbreaker

Photo: Penticton Vees

A comeback attempt fell short for the Penticton Vees Friday night, as they fell 4-3 in double-overtime to the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks. 

The Vees' Duncan Campbell tied the game with just 19 seconds left in regulation.

But, Carter Cochrane sunk the game-winner two and a half minutes into three-on-three overtime.

Ty Amonte scored the other two goals for the Vees, as they came back after trailing 3-1 through two periods. 

Call-up Josh Arnold scored his first BCHL goal in the first period, along with veteran Mitch Skapski, as the Silverbacks staked an early 2-0 lead. Marcus Mitchell scored in early the second, but the real story was in goal, as Nic Tallarico made 51-saves in his first start for Salmon Arm.

The Vees got a much-needed boost late in the first, as Amonte scored with less than five minutes to go, curling out from behind the net to fire a wrist-shot glove side, inside the post.

Penticton couldn't find the net in the second, ringing shots off the cross-bar, and captain Nicholas Jones was cut on a high hit that knocked his helmet off. A scrum ended with a handful of penalties.

Penticton refocused in the third, with Amonte benefitting from a lucky bounce. Owen Sillinger had his shot kicked out, but it went off of Amonte’s skate and back into the net. 

With the Vees' net empty for the extra skater late in the period, James Miller made a play at the blue-line to save the puck from going outside the zone. He fired it over to Sillinger, whose point-shot was redirected in by Campbell from the top of the crease. 

Neither team was able to seal the deal in the first overtime period. 

The 'Backs caught a tired Vees trio up ice after Penticton's best chance in three-on-three, with Cochrane putting a cross-ice pass over the glove of Matt Robson at 2:25 of double OT.

Penticton next plays the Powell River Kings tonight at the SOEC.