Was at tonights Game 3 of the Interior Conference Finals as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 3-0 in front of 1,746 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Salmon Arm: Bryan Gillis
1st Period: Off the opening draw Vernon dumped the play in deep, a funny bounce off the end boards wich the puck come back out front, luckly for Bryan Gillis the Silverbacks picked up the loose puck and come close to scoring at the other end of the rink, with a quick shot from the circle that just missed the far corner. The Backs would get the first powerplay of the night just minutes into the game and then while on the PP Vernon would go down two men, as the Silverbacks jumped on an early two man advantage. Braden Pimm tried taking the feet from under one Silverback player and then got away with punching another Back in the face. Justin Cseter & Brent Vandenberg went in two on one as Cseter made a nice pass through the crease as Vandenberg just missed the net. The Vipers penalty kill was very sharp keeping the Silverbacks to the outside, blocking shots and not giving the Silverbacks much room to generate an offensive attack. Some big shot blocking by Connor Jones, Chris Crowell and Rob Short. The Vipers would only give up one lone shot while on the penlty kill, killing off both minors. Shortly after Cory Kane with a nice move cut towards the net, dishing off to Sahir Gill who was robbed in front by Bryan Gillis. A fast paced period with both teams skating well showing lots of jump as the play went back and forth with some very entertaining action. Brent Vandenberg with his second chance of the period was stopped by Andrew Hammond. Bryan Gillis made a huge glove save on a Viper with a shot from the point. Vernon was without veteran Cameron brodie for half of the period as Brodie left the ice and was in the Vipers dressing room for a good part of the first half of the period before returning to the bench. It looked like Cameron was having skate problems. The Vipers would then get their first powerplay chance as Salmon Arm would go down two men, as Vernon now with a two man advantage. Vernon would struggle with the man advantage, as the Backs would kill off the two man advantage. Connor Jones & Sahir Gill with a two on one, Gill just missed the net after the pass from Jones. Late in the 1st Matt Wray checked Cameron Brodie from behind, as Brodie got up then dropping his gloves going after Wray. Wray and the Silverbacks were lucky as Wray was called for interference. A very entertaining period with both teams getting some good quality chances. It was scoreless after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-5.
2nd Period: Early into the 2nd period Matt Wray laid out a huge elbow on Connor Jones in the neutral zone, Jones went down and had troubles getting back up on his feet as the teams trainer and players had to help Jones off the ice. Connor would head to the Vipers dressing room for several minutes before returning to the bench. Jones would see a few short shifts before heading back to the dressing room and then back to the bench. For most of the period Connor was in and out of the lineup, being seen walking back and forth in the walkway between the Vipers bench and dressing room. With the Vipers already down with injuries to Kevin Kraus and Ryan Santana Mark Ferner now had to juggle his lines once again for most of the 2nd. Cory Kane would open the scoring at 4:25 after beating Bryan Gillis on a wrap around. Bryce Kakoske with the lone assist. As the period went on Salmon Arm really turned up the play, outworking, outhitting and outplaying the Vipers for most of the period. In the second half of the period it looked as if the Silverbacks were on a powerplay as the Backs really controlled the play deep in the Vernon zone. Max Grassi with a blast from the point while on the powerplay was stopped by Hammond. Andrew Hammond was the difference coming up with some huge saves keeping the Vipers in tonights game. Justin Cseter was robbed at the side of the net by Andrew Hammond who come across the crease to make the big pad save. Mark Zengerle then wired a shot from the top of the circle, the puck just whistled high and wide of the top corner, Zenergle even thought he had hit the net after celebrating just a tad too early. Other then the Kane goal the Vipers couldnt generate any kind of offence attack, as most of the play was held in the Vernon end of the rink. Give the Vipers defence credit, they did a great job at blocking alot of the Silverback shots from the point, keeping the Backs to the outside and then letting Andrew Hammond to make any of the saves from down low or in close. Even though Salmon Arm carried the better of the play, Vernon did a good job at not giving up a single shot for a good seven to eight minutes. Salmon Arm come very close to tying the game, Ashford McMaster with a shot from the point got through traffic but somehow couldnt find its way to the back of the net, with the puck laying in the crease and a mad scramble in front of Hammond the Backs still couldnt put the puck past Hammond. Salmon Arm outplayed Vernon but were down 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 11-10.
3rd Period: Almost a complete copy of the 2nd period took place for most of the 3rd period. Once again it looked like a Silverbacks powerplay as the Backs held the edge in play deep in the Vipers zone but it was five on five. The Vipers offence couldnt get anything going as the Silverbacks poured on the presure. Once again Vernons defence played a strong game, keeping the Backs to the outside, clogging up the middle. Two minutes into the final period off the draw Travis Briard rang a hard shot off the far post wich would have tied the game. Salmon Arm with two powerplays and still no goals after some good presure but the strong penalty kill and goaltending by Andrew Hammond was a huge difference in tonights game. Vernon would kill off both minors. Jason Beatie had a great chance in front but was stoned by Hammond who looked very focused. Any chance the Vipers offence took over, they were having all kinds of troubles getting through the neutral zone, turning over the puck. Just before the midway mark Cole Ikkala at 9:28 with a long screened shot from way out somehow beat Bryan Gillis upstairs putting Vernon up 2-0. This was just the Vipers 2nd shot of the period. The Vipers then seemed to get a little confidence and now were just hitting centre and getting the puck in deep, trying to wind the clock down. Steven Weinstein didnt see a shift come the 3rd period, seeing very limited icetime. Mark Ferner was taking Kory Roy out of the draw, switching him up with Braden Pimm, then Roy would change with Pimm as the game went on. Connor Jones took a beating tonight, and for the second time tonight took a big elbow from Captain Matt Walters, Walters and Jones then had words on the way back up ice. On the other side Chris Crowell got away with a big elbow along the side boards. Late in the game Andrew Hammond would get caught firing the puck over the side glass giving the Silverbacks a late powerplay with just over two minutes remaining. Bryan Gillis would head to the bench for the extra attacker, with the Backs on the powerplay Captain Chris Crowell just missed the empty net with a long shot from his own end. On the next shift Connor Jones would hit the empty net at 18:25 from his own end scoring shorthanded and giving the Vipers the 3-0 lead. Andrew Hammond with the lone assist. Some pushing and shoving in front of Andrew Hammond in the final few seconds as the Vipers would pick up the 3-0 victory, now taking a 2-1 series lead and regaining home ice advantage. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 16-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
James Kerr played well at times. Kerr played well on the PK.
Connor Jones (1 goal) took two big elbows from Matt Walters and Matt Wray but battled hard, showing alot of character by staying in tonights game. Connor played very well down low, was in the face of many Backs players, played physical taking and dishing out some checks.
Cory Kane (1 goal) Played very well through out tonights game. Kane was skating well, really handling the puck well, dangling through the Backs zone. Kane was very good on the draw and played well at both ends of the rink.
Chris Crowell played another physical game, was a presence on the ice.
Adam Thompson played very well on the Vernon blueline.
Andrew Hammond (33 saves) Picked up his first shutout of the BCHL Playoffs. Hammond was by far the difference in tonights game. Looked very focused, played with lots of confidence, staying calm and had control on all rebounds and 2nd chances in close.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Bryan Gillis played very well, making some big saves on a few good Viper scoring chances. Robbed Sahir Gill twice, and made a big glove save in the 1st period.
Ashford McMaster looked very good on the Silverbacks blueline. McMaster see's alot of icetime, very steady d-man.
Justin Cseter played one heck of a game. Cseter saw a ton of icetime and looked very dangerous up front. Was robbed twice by Andrew Hammond. Had some good quality scoring chances.
Jason Beatie played well defensivly.
Brent Vandenberg had two great scoring chances early in the 1st period. Was skating well, looked dangerous in front of the net.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers were lucky and hung on for the 3-0 victory. A very nerve racking game to watch if your a Vipers fan. Both teams looked very good in a very entertaining 1st period but Salmon Arm really turned up the play in the 2nd and 3rd periods. In both the final two periods it looked as if the Vipers were on the penalty kill as most of the play was held in the Vernon zone. The Vipers were basically sitting back on a one goal lead, trying to hang on. Andrew Hammond & the Vipers penalty kill was the difference. Hammond looked very good especially in the 2nd period making many big saves. The Viper penalty kill was huge, coming up with some big shot blocks and really clogged up the middle, keeping the Silverbacks to the outside. At times Vernons defence didnt give up a single shot for a solid three to four minutes all while being pinned in their own end. The Vipers really missed Ryan Santana on the faceoffs. This could have been anybodys game. You have to now wonder what if the Vipers could have hung on to the 2-1 lead in the final two and a half minutes of Game 1, this could be a 3-0 series lead with a chance at ending the Backs season tomorrow night.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Salmon Arm played very well, really moved the puck well, generated alot of offence and quality scoring chances but ran into a hot goaltender and didnt get the lucky bounces. On several chances with the puck loose in or around a open net, the Silverbacks just couldnt seem to get the bounce they needed. 0-7 on the powerplay hurts, also Briards shot off the far post could have tied the game just two minutes into the 3rd. Rylan Ferster was matching lines for most of the night, until changing up his lines midway through the 3rd, trying to give the team a spark. The Silverbacks once again played physical atleast in the first two periods, they battled hard, won most of the battles and races to the puck but couldnt find the back of the net. Late in the 3rd it looked as if Salmon Arm was getting frustrated at times, after getting some great scoring chances. Salmon Arm with a must win in Game 4 tomorrow night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Kevin Kraus (Injured)
Ryan Santana (Injured)
Nick Amies
Trent Dorias (AP)
Salmon Arm:
Mike Puddifant
Levi Hantula
Christoper Hoe
3 Stars:
1st Star: Andrew Hammond (33 saves)
2nd Star: Cory Kane (1 goal)
3rd Star: Justin Cseter
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