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ic Jones factored in a major way again for the Penticton Vees in another big home ice win, tipping home the game-winner at 9:40 of overtime to deliver a 3-2 win and a 3-2 series lead over the Vernon Vipers.
Vernon defenceman Cam Trott opened the scoring with his third goal of the series, all in the Vees’ rink, making it 1-0 Vipers on the power play at 6:34 of the first. Gabe Bast tied it for the Vees just 1:17 later, also on the man advantage.
Penticton went ahead just 13 seconds into the second with Taylor Sanheim converting a setup from Jared Nash but Vernon had a reply off the stick of Jagger Williamson, making the score 2-2 just before the five-minute mark of the middle frame.
There would be no more scoring in regulation with each team killing off a penalty in the third period. In overtime, with Vernon’s players remaining on the ice after an icing call, Jones won a draw and went to the net front where he was able to tip a point shot from James Miller past a screened Darion Hanson. Game 6 will be Saturday in a 7 p.m. start in Vernon
Nathan Looysen tied the game in the late going and then provided the overtime winner just 3:29 into extra time to give the Victoria Grizzlies a 3-2 road win over the Chilliwack Chiefs that forces a Game 6 Saturday in Victoria.
Jordan Kawaguchi got the Chiefs on the board in the first on the man advantage and Will Caverley’s goal in the second put the home side up a pair heading to the final frame.
The Grizzlies dug deep to rally with their season on the line and produced two goals in the third with Dayne Finnson getting his first of the postseason and Looysen tying it with less than three minutes to go. Looysen followed up with the winner early in the extra session on a setup from Tyler Welsh. Game 6 goes at 6 p.m. Saturday from The Q Centre in Victoria.
