The Penticton Vees broke the 1989-90 New Westminster Royals BCHL record for consecutive games undefeated as they claimed their 39th consecutive win Friday night in a comeback 4-3 win over the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
Penticton found themselves down 2-0 early in the second after former Vee Myles McCauley opened the scoring in the first and Travis Stephens added his 13th of the season early in the second. The Vees power play got them back in it as Mike Reilly and Bryce Gervais tallied on the man advantage to tie it.
With the game tied at three just past the midway point of the third, Travis St. Denis scored the winner with his 33rd of the season.
They can print the playoff tickets in Prince George as the Spruce Kings knocked off the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters 6-1. Scoreless after one, PG blew up for five second period goals including three on the power play. Trail's Brent Baltus broke Ty Swabb's shutout bid with under two minutes to go.
Also booking postseason plans are the Coquitlam Express after a 5-4 come-from-behind home win over the Langley Rivermen. Langley led 3-0 early in the second after Mario Puskarich's 27th of the season but Coquitlam clawed back with captain Alex Petan's hat trick goal being the winner at 18:17 of the third.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals gutted out a 3-2 home win over the Powell River Kings getting the winning goal from Matt Brown at 6:13 of the third. The teams traded two goals each in the middle frame with Steen Cooper's goal with a second left in the period tying it 2-2. Derek Dun made 29 saves for the win.
A three-goal third period by the Nanaimo Clippers broke a 1-1 deadlock and gave them a 4-1 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Andrew Gladiuk got the winner with his second of the game midway through the third. With Coquitlam's win, the Clippers were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
The Chilliwack Chiefs moved seven points up on fifth-place Vernon, who was idle Friday, after a 3-1 road win over the Westside Warriors. Goals by Malcolm Gould and Spencer Graboski put the Chiefs up 2-0 after one. A David Thompson point shot made it 3-0 just after the Warriors had killed a 5-on-3. Travis Blanleil's goal with 1:21 to go ruined Mitch Gillam's shutout.
Nicholas Taylor made 41 saves for the Victoria Grizzlies but it was still not enough as the Surrey Eagles took a 5-1 road win. Knotted 1-1 going into the third, the game's winning goal came from Demico Hannoun on the power play before Steve Koshey, Brett Mulcahy and Brayden Jaw added the others.
