Ben Sexton scored two shorthanded goals and Sean Bonar kicked out 19 shots to get his third shutout of the season as the Penticton Vees blanked the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-0 in B.C. Hockey League play Saturday at Sunwave Centre.
Rookie star Beau Bennett tallied his 34th goal and added an assist, Joey Holka notched his 25th and defenceman Joey Laleggia had a helper to run his league-best points streak to 14 games. The Vees directed 29 shots at Tony Ierfino in the Silverbacks net.
The Vees played their third straight game without BCHL scoring leader Denver Manderson, who may not be back until the playoffs due to an undisclosed lower body injury.
Penticton played with just 16 skaters – nine forwards and seven defencemen. Forwards Alex Szczechura (hand) and Eric Filiou (mononucleosis) were once again out of the lineup.
Salmon Arm was also banged up and had just four defencemen available for the game.
The Vees (43-7-0-3) edged within two points of the idle Vernon Vipers in the Interior Conference. Both teams have seven games left, including two head-to-head meetings.
Holka got the only goal of the first period on the power play from Bennett and Laleggia at 13:22.
Sexton got his first goal on a rocket from the right circle at 5:40 of the second.
Bennett got the insurance goal on the power play from Milan at 8:56 of the third and Sexton scored his 11th of the season on a breakaway at 15:17.
The Vees visit the Trail Smoke Eaters Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. before the first of the two big meetings with the Vipers Friday in Vernon. Penticton is back home to play the Merritt Centennials on Saturday.
Vernon is home to the Centennials on Tuesday.
