Vees derail Express, again

Photo: Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees built up a big lead on Friday and crushed the Coquitlam Express for the second time in three nights.

Penticton built up a five-goal lead after two periods en route to a 5-1 win in Coquitlam. The Vees had earned a 7-1 win over the Express on Valentine's Day at the SOEC.

Nick Leivermann, who returned from injury on Wednesday after a 14-game absence, scored his first goal since Nov. 24 to open the scoring in the first.

Dakota Boutin, who returned to the lineup on Friday after missing 10 games, drew in an assist on the opening goal as well.

About eight minutes later, at 16:13 of the first, rookie Lukas Sillinger doubled the Vees lead by scoring his first goal in 23 games.

Penticton outshot Coquitlam 15-10 in the first, but the second was almost a no-contest; the Vees scored three more times and outshot the Express 12-1 in the middle frame.

Cassidy Bowes scored to make it 3-0 at 5:04 of the second, before captain Owen Sillinger scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season in the second half of the period. 

Sillinger, who leads the Vees with 59 points, became the fourth BCHL player to hit the 30-goal plateau this season.

Coquitlam finally struck on the scoreboard with 1:12 to go in the game, ending the chance at a shutout for Vees goalie Adam Scheel.

Final shots were 35-17 for Penticton. The visitors went 2-2 on the powerplay, 3-3 on the penalty kill and scored a shorthanded goal to boot.

With 79 points, the Vees (37-11-2-3) suddenly have a four-point cushion atop the BCHL standings. Both Vernon and Wenatchee have 75 points and both have played one more game than Penticton to date.

It hasn't been a pretty month for the Express (14-37-1-3), who have dropped seven-straight games. 

Despite Friday's loss, Coquitlam clinched the 16th and final BCHL playoff spot. The last-place Cowichan Valley Capitals no longer have a chance of catching the Express for 16th.

The Vees and Express began their regular season series on Wednesday and it ended on Friday. While brief, there's a growing chance those two teams will be first round playoff opponents. There are eight days remaining in the regular season.

Penticton's weekend in the Lower Mainland continues when they visit the Langley Rivermen on Saturday night, and it will wrap up with a game in Surrey against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon.