The West Kelowna Warriors gave up three first period goals and couldn’t recover, falling 5-2 to the Penticton Vees on Friday night in the Peach City.
Tyson Jost got the home team on the board just 33 seconds in with a quick wrap around goal, and just over 10 minutes later made it 2-0 with a quick snapper from the left circle.
The Warriors physical play picked up as the period progressed, but Scott Conway’s marker just 1:31 after the Jost tally sent the home crowd back into a frenzy with a 3-0 lead.
Bryan Basilico got the Warriors on the board in the second period as a penalty expired for the Vees, as he beat Anthony Brodeur from the sidewall to make it 3-1.
Nicholas Jones scored on the power play for the Vees to make it 4-1, before Jonathan Desbiens did something only one other Warrior has done.
After a puck was poked ahead from Liam Blackburn, Desbiens broke in alone on Brodeur and beat the Vees netminder, for his 40th goal of the season. Desbiens is now only one goal away from tying Trevor Bailey for the Warriors Single-Season goal scoring record. Desbiens and Bailey are the only two Warriors to score 40 goals in a season.
The Vees added insurance in the third period, finishing off a 5-2 victory with a 34-20 edge in shots.
West Kelowna is back in action Saturday night to take on the Langley Rivermen, in their first home game since January. Puck drops at 7 PM, as the Warriors continue to push towards home ice advantage in the first round of the BCHL playoffs, as they lead Salmon Arm by five points with five games to play after the Silverbacks defeated Coquitlam Friday.
