GAME RECAP: Vees Ride Nadeau Hat Trick To 8-2 Victory Over Smoke Eaters
PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees used a four-goal third period as well as a hat trick from Josh Nadeau to extend their winning streak to seven games in an 8-2 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees came out as the more energized team in the opening period of play and were able to be the first ones to get on the scoresheet as Josh Nadeau helped his team to a 1-0 advantage. Nadeau got the puck on the right-wing side and made his way into the offensive zone, moving to the right face-off circle and toe-dragging a defender before snapping a shot over the glove shoulder of Smoke Eaters netminder Evan Fradette for his team-leading 26th goal of the season and a one-goal lead at the 8:55 mark of the 1st period.
The lead was pushed to two goals at the 11:43 mark of the opening frame as Adam Eisele buried his 6th goal of the season on a deflection. Josh Nadeau sent a shot to the net from the top of the left face-off circle that was deflected by Eisele past the glove side of Fradette at the 11:43 mark of the opening frame for a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period of play.
Penticton pushed their lead to three goals at the 2:00 mark of the 2nd period as Thomas Pichette pushed the Vees ahead by three goals. A nice passing play starting with Stefano Bottini as he dished the puck to the right face-off circle with Jackson Nieuwendyk spotting Pichette in the slot as he one-timed a shot past the blocker shoulder of Fradette for his 8th goal of the season as Penticton took a 3-0 lead.
The Smoke Eaters got one back at the 14:22 mark of the middle stanza with Zach Michaelis scoring on a breakaway. Brady Hunter spotted Michaelis with a break in the neutral zone as the Smoke Eaters forward moved in alone and beat Vees goaltender Kaeden Lane underneath the blocker side to make the game a 3-1 Vees lead.
Just over a minute later, Josh Nadeau tallied his second goal of the night at the 15:30 mark of the 2nd period to push the Vees back ahead by a three-goal margin. A power play sparked Nadeau to carry the puck down the right-wing side and laced a shot over the glove shoulder of Fradette and his second goal of the night pushed the Vees ahead by a 4-1 score.
Corey Cunningham got the Smoke Eaters within a pair of goals at the 17:26 mark of the middle period right off of a face-off in the left circle. Quinn Disher pushed the face-off ahead as Cunningham went to his backhand and slid the puck past the glove side of Lane to cut the Vees lead to 4-2.
Penticton regained their three-goal lead early in the 3rd period as Eisele chipped in his second goal of the game courtesy of a power play. Luc Wilson sent a pass from the right face-off circle to the slot as he redirected a shot through the legs of Fradette for his 7th goal of the season and a 5-2 Vees lead.
The Vees put the game on ice with three goals in a 49 second span beginning with Josh Nadeau completing his hat-trick at the 5:31 mark of the 3rd period. The Vees forward stole the puck in front of the net Smoke Eaters net before going from his forehand to his backhand and lifting a shot over the blocker side of Fradette to give the Vees a 6-2 lead with his 28th goal of the season.
Bradly Nadeau got the Vees ahead by five goals just 26 seconds later, finishing off a passing play from Eisele at the 5:57 mark for his 14th goal of the season before Ethan Mann scored 23 seconds after that, burying his 8th goal of the season in front of the net to give the Vees an 8-2 lead at the 6:20 mark of the 3rd period, the eventual final score.
Kaeden Lane turned aside 13 of the 15 shots thrown his way in his 21st win of the season while Evan Fradette made 28 saves on 35 shots in his 14th loss of the season before being relieved by Owen Albers, who made 7 saves on 8 shots.
FINAL SCORE: 8-2 Vees
SHOTS ON GOAL: 43-15 Vees
VEES PP: 2/3
VEES PK: 1/1
3 STARS:
1) Josh Nadeau (3-1-4)
2) Braden Doyle (0-3-3)
3) Adam Eisele (1-2-3)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Thomas Pichette (1-1-2)
Attendance: 2,500
The Vees (28-6-0-2) are back for another Wicked Wednesday at the South Okanagan Events Centre as they host the Vernon Vipers (16-14-3-3) on Wednesday night. Puck drop is slated for 6:30 PM with tickets available for purchase at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirsttix.com. The game will also be broadcasted live on Bounce Radio 800 as well as streamed on BCHLTV.ca beginning with the pre-game show at 6:10 PM.