Vees blank Chilliwack in regular-season finale
The captain delivered in the third period to steer the Penticton Vees to a victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs in their final regularseason game.
Nicholas Jones scored twice in the last 10 minutes to break a scoreless tie and Duncan Campbell added a shorthanded empty-net goal as the Vees blanked the Chilliwack Chiefs 3-0 in front of 4,089 fans at Prospera Centre.
Mat Robson made 27 saves for his leagueleading sixth shutout and 35th win as the Interior Division pennant-winning Vees (4113-3-1) moved into a tie for second place overall with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs (40-11-6) are home to Prince George in their final game on Sunday afternoon and need at least a point to finish ahead of Penticton.
Josh Bolding, a Junior-B callup from the Sicamous Eagles, made his first BCHL start in place of injured No. 1 goalie Mark Sinclair and stopped 25 shots for the Chiefs.
With the victory, the Vees assured themselves of finishing ahead of the Victoria Grizzlies for third overall in the BCHL.
Scoring chances were at a premium in the first two periods. The Chiefs came closest to breaking the stalemate as Jordan Kawaguchi rattled a rebound off the crossbar with 4:20 in the second.
The Vees finally broke through midway through the third as Jones forced home a rebound from in tight after Bolding made a superb save off Duncan Campbell.
Jones got a huge power play goal with 1:50 to go, sizzling a shot off the rush from the left circle over Bolding’s glove for his 25th of the campaign.
Campbell sealed it with the empty-netter with 47 seconds left as the Vees finished February with a superb 9-1-2 record.
Jones, Robson and Bolding were the three stars.
The Vees get a first-round playoff bye and don’t play again until opening the second round at home on March 17.
ICE CHIPS: The two other Okanagan teams play their last games tonight with Trail visiting Vernon Vipers at 6 p.m. and West Kelowna Warriors travelling to Salmon Arm. . . . The Vees were once again without D Mitch Meek (hand), D Joe Leahy (head) and F Taylor Sanheim (upper-body). Meek and Leahy are expected to be ready for playoffs.