Penticton got “Parkered”!
With Teagan Kendrick home in Trail after being ill all week, Ryan Parker’s performance provided the foundation for the Smoke Eaters sensational 4-3 overtime victory in the Okanagan.
Parker’s 49th save was a desperate dive across the net late in the tie-breaking session, setting the stage for Jason Stefanek’s burial of his own rebound moments later, securing the team-record 14th straight win.
Parker was brilliant in a scoreless first period, making 18 saves.
The teams traded two goals each in a see-saw second period.
Brayden Sinclair crashed the net, jamming in a Drew Anastasio rebound to tie the game 1-1 and delivered the dramatic game-tying goal with 1:43 remaining in regulation.
The 19-year-old newcomer circled the net after stealing the puck and fed Judah Makway in the slot. Vees goalie Will Ingemann made a great save on Makway and Sinclair sniped the rebound into the top corner.
Christian Kim also scored an impressive goal in the middle frame.
He blew past the Vees defence down the left wing and jammed a shot through Ingemann on a power move through the crease.
Vees captain Connor Hellyer broke the 2-2 tie just past the six minute mark in the third period, intercepting a pass in Trail territory and ripping a shot into the top corner for his second goal of the game.
Sinclair’s tying goal gave the Smokies momentum as they outshot the Vees 8-4 in overtime.
In addition to the winning streak, Stefanek and Kim extended their offensive runs.
Kim now has goals in eight straight games and points in 12 in a row, while Stefanek, the other half of the ‘California Connection’, is on a 14-game consecutive points streak.
There is no rest for the cardiac Kootenay kids, who arrived home at about 2:30 in the morning, as they host Salmon Arm tonight.
This is the first Cominco Arena clash of the season against the Silverbacks.
The Smokies have won both games in the Shuswap, including the incredible 2-1 overtime victory in late October.
On that night, Ridge Dawson’s shorthanded goal tied the game with less than a second left in regulation and Carter Matthews sniped the overtime winner.
Parker picked up the victory a month later in a 4-1 Trail triumph.
The Smokies are now one point back of the first place Vees, while the Silverbacks trail fourth place Sherwood Park by two points.
Opening face-off is set for 7 p.m. and good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
