Sometimes, the hockey Gods just don't smile on you.
It was that way for the Westside Warriors Tuesday.
Playing their fourth game in five nights with a trip to Prince George thrown in, the Warriors more than held their own against the league leading Penticton Vees, only to fall 3-2 in double overtime.
Vees captain Logan Johnston slid a backhand under Dwayne Rodrigue 1:58 into the extra frame to seal Penticton's 12th win in a row.
The winner came moments after Rodrigue foiled the Vees on a two-man breakaway. He made big saves on both Steven Fogarty and Curtis Loik before Johnston put home the game winner on a rebound.
"I just put my head down when I saw it," says Ferster of the two man breakaway.
"For our bench it just lifts the whole bench. We have a room of 20 guys in there that just want to play for him. Those kids want to play hard for him."
Twice the Warriors trailed by a goal and twice they battled back to tie the game.
Connor Dempsey evened the score at 1-1 late in the second period on a Warriors power-play, however, Ryan Reilly's second of the game less than 90 seconds later restored the Vees one-goal lead.
In the third period in which the Warriors dominated, Max French finally got the equalizer.
French scored his eighth of the year and third in four games since returning from injury when he roofed Michael King's rebound with less than 10 minutes left in regulation.
The Warriors had some good chances to get the winner later in regulation and in the first four-on-four overtime but were unable to beat Vees netminder Michael Garteig.
"I thought we played pretty good," says Ferster.
"Obviously they're a pretty good hockey club, they've only lost three times and for us to stay with them and play like that. I've said all along when we play I like our team and tonight I think we sort of proved that."
The Warriors have struggled at times during the season either not getting the big save at the right time or not scoring the timely goal.
Tuesday, Rodrigue gave his team a chance to win with several key saves at opportune times.
"He's given us a chance to win every game. Now. it's up to us to score some goals for him. He makes save after save for us. Let's bail him out once."
While they weren't able to grab two points, Ferster says the two on zero breakaway Rodrigue stopped could be a catalyst to get the team rolling.
"You hope so. To win you have to have great goaltending for the most part and he's done that since he's come in for us," says Ferster.
"Hard work covers up mistakes and if you work hard eventually you'll start getting the odd hockey bounce. Let's just keep our fingers crossed we don't get too far back here, still within striking distance of a playoff spot and maybe get on the other side of these close games."
The Warriors get a couple of well-deserved days off before hosting Vernon Friday and Prince George Saturday.
Visit The General’s Report for further analysis and coverage of the Westside Warriors.
