Vees beat up on Express

Photo: Cherie Morgan Photography

Powered by five third-period goals, 42 shots and four points from captain Owen Sillinger, the Penticton Vees trounced the visiting Coquitlam Express 7-1 on Wednesday night.

Penticton scored all seven of their goals at even-strength in a game that pitted first versus nearly-worst in the B.C. Hockey League standings.

Ryan Sandelin broke out of a 23-game goalless drought in a big way. The Vees forward scored at 8:45 of the first to open the scoring, his first of two goals on the night.

Sillinger doubled Penticton's lead with his first of two at 10:11 of the second period. The Vees led 28-14 in shots after 40 minutes but just 2-1 on the scoreboard.

That until a third period when the flood gates opened.

Coquitlam scored less than a minute into the third to spoil any chance at a shutout for Vees goalie Adam Scheel, but Penticton buried a barrage of goals after that.

Sandelin scored his second at 4:35 of the third. Just under four minutes later, defenseman Kenny Johnson ended an 83-game goalless drought to put the Vees up 4-1.

Goals from three veterans — Sillinger, Taylor Ward and Wyatt Sloboshan — solidified a 7-1 win for Penticton.

Sillinger, Sandelin, Sloboshan, Jonny Tychonick, Marcus Mitchell and Chris Klack all had multi-point nights for Penticton.

Final shots were 42-21 for the Vees (36-11-2-3), who now improve to 5-1 in February.

The same can't be said for the Express (14-36-1-3), who are now 1-6 this month and have been outscored handily, 33-17.

These two teams meet again in Coquitlam on Friday night, when the Vees begin a three-game weekend in the Lower Mainland. They will then visit Langley on Saturday and Surrey on Sunday.