The Penticton Vees have booked their spot in the RBC Cup semifinals after a 3-1 win over the Portage Terriers on Wednesday night.
The Vees (2-2) rallied for three goals in the third period after falling behind 1-0 in the middle frame. Penticton will have to wait until Thursday night to find out which team they play in one of two semifinals.
In their previous three round-robin games, the Vees surrendered the opening goal, and Wednesday was not different. They spotted the Terriers a second period power-play tally when Tanner Waldvogel put a shot through Mike Garteig after scramble at the side of the net.
The Terriers outshot the Vees in the second 9-8 after the Vees edged the Terriers 10-7 in the opening period. Both Mike Garteig and Terriers goaltender Shea Cooper were outstanding in the middle frame, making a handful of eye-popping saves. Garteig highlighted the second with a desperation stick save off of Brendan Harms to keep the game within one goal.
The Vees hit their stride in the third period exploding for three goals. Curtis Loik found a loose puck at the post and shoveled it underneath Cooper’s pad at 1:53. Logan Johnston then put the Vees ahead for the first time in the game, corralling a loose puck after a failed pass and stuffing it in the open side past a down-and-out Cooper at 8:51.
Mike Reilly sealed the win with his first goal of the tournament on a Vees power play. Reilly wired a shot from the slot over the glove of Cooper at 11:49 to give the Vees their first two-goal lead of the tournament.
Mike Garteig finished with 25 saves, including 10 in the third period for his second straight win in goal. Shea Cooper took the loss for the Terriers in his first start of the RBC Cup, making twenty-four saves in defeat.
