Was at tonights Game 4 of the Interior Conference Finals as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-1 in front of 1,849 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Salmon Arm: Bryan Gillis
1st Period: The Vipers would get some good news as Kevin Kraus returned to the lineup tonight after missing the last game. Some good back and forth action between both teams early before Keenan Desmet would beat Andrew Hammond at 3:14 after a Vipers turnover inbehind their own net. Conor Morrison & Mark Zengerle collected the assists. This goal seemed to give the Backs that extra jump as the Silverbacks were flying for most of the 1st period, Salmon Arm was skating hard, really moving the puck well. Kyle Bigos went for the check as Keenan Desmet went around Bigos in for the two on one, Desmet cut towards the goal but was stopped by Hammond, the play would come back the other way as Cory Kane & Cole Ikkala would come in two on one, Kane setup Ikkala who would go in for the breakaway but couldnt beat Bryan Gillis. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the game and struggled early before the Silverbacks would go down two men, as the Vipers now had a short two man advantage. Vernon moved the puck well getting a few chances but couldnt beat Gillis who was sharp. Salmon Arm's penalty kill played very well all night, really forcing Vernons defence at the point, and clogging up the middle as the Vipers were having troubles getting pucks towards the net. Salmon Arm would kill off both minors. The Backs played a very physical period, finishing their checks. The Vipers took a beating down low in the corners getting worked over at times. Justin Cseter had a great chance to put the Silverbacks up two goals, with Andrew Hammond down and out, Cseter missed a wide open goal, firing high and over the net. In the dying seconds of the period Salmon Arm come close to scoring getting a shot from the point with just seconds remaining but just missed the far side of the net. The Silverbacks looked like the better team up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 11-7.
2nd Period: Salmon Arm would start the 2nd on the man advantage wich was carried over from the end of the 1st. The Backs moved the puck well but couldnt hit the back of the net as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Salmon Arm looked like the hungrier team really looking good with the puck, the line of Mark Zengerle, Conor Morrison and Keenan Desmet was fyling for most of the night. The Viper defence without Cameron Brodie caused a few turnovers in their own end giving up some odd man rushes. Once again the Silverbacks were laying the body going after the Jones Twins, both Connor & Kellen took a pounding down low. Both teams didnt get many chances after a very tight checking 2nd. Salmon Arm was doing a great job at tying up the Viper sticks, not giving Vernon much room to move. In the second half of the period the Vipers would get into penalty trouble as Salmon Arm would get their first two man advantage of the night. After being caught with too many men on the ice, Connor Jones took a stick to the face, with no call on the play, Mark Ferner went nuts at the Vernon bench, after yelling towards Andrew Guest Ferner was given a penalty wich put the Vipers down two men. It didnt take long after some nice puck movement veteran Max Grassi would wire a shot past Andrew Hammond at 13:09 putting the Backs up two goals. Assists going to, Ashford McMaster & Justin Cseter. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the second minor with some solid penalty kill. Vernon would pick up their play a little getting some chances, Rob Short with a great chance at the side of the net, but the pass through the crease hit something in front, sending the puck into the corner. The Silverbacks would get into penalty trouble as Vernon would get a late two man advantage, this their second of the night. With time ticking away on the clock, Braden Pimm would bang away at the loose puck, scoring on his own rebound at 19:27 with still time remaining on the 2nd powerplay. Chris Crowell & Bryce Kakoske picking up the assists. With a quick shot from the corner, a chance late as the Vipers were down 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 8-6.
3rd Period: Vernon would start the period with 40 seconds left in the man advantage, after some sloppy play off the draw time would expire as the Backs would kill off the minor. The Vipers would get the next three powerplays but would struggle with the man advantage. Kellen Jones come so close to tying the game after hitting the post from the slot. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Shortly after some nice three way passing by the Silverbacks, Keenan Desmet would get his 2nd of the night beating Hammond at 4:58 regaining Salmon Arm's two goal lead. Conor Morrison would collect the lone assist. The Vipers would go back on the powerplay, give credit to the Backs penalty kill who were in the Vipers faces all night, really forcing the pass this causing turnovers at the line. Salmon Arm would do a great job at clogging up the middle, collapsing down low as the Vipers shooting lanes were closed, as most of the shots were from the outside wich had troubles getting through the traffic of bodies in front. Vernon would get just a single shot on all three powerplays as the Silverbacks penalty kill looked very strong killing off all three minors. Both teams carried the play at times in the second half but once again not many scoring chances as both teams were held to limited chances with not many shots in the final two periods. Rob Short & Cory Kane on the two on one, Short fed Kane who missed the net after releasing a wicked wrist shot from the slot. Vernon did have the better of the play in the second half but couldnt get pucks through the strong defensive play from the Backs. The Vipers would get just two shots on goal in the 2nd half of the 3rd. Mark Zengerle with a shot from the slot but was stopped by Hammond. Mark Ferner would call a timeout in the final two minutes of the hockey game, with 1:47 remaining Andrew Hammond would head to the bench for the extra man but the Vipers couldnt seem to sustain any offence in the Backs zone, Salmon Arm did a great job at not giving the Vipers any room to move out their tonight. In the dying seconds Rob Short & Zac Rasmussen were tangled up along the side boards with a linesmen as both players were trying to get at one another. The Vipers had the better of the play in the 3rd but fell to Salmon Arm 3-1 as the Silverbacks tied the series 2-2 with Game 5 in Vernon Friday night. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 7-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Connor & Kellen Jones played well taking yet another pounding getting checked hard all night. Both Twins worked extremely hard, playing physical themselves, skating hard, creating chances down low. Both kids played well defensively.
Cory Kane played well for the 2nd straight night. Kane who is a very good skater and puck handler looked dangerous with the puck several times. Kane setup Cole Ikkala on a two on one in the 1st and then had a great chance in the 3rd on a two on one but missed the net.
Andrew Hammond couldnt be faulted on any of the Backs three goals. Hammond played well between the pipes.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Bryan Gillis (23 saves) Played well giving up just the lone powerplay goal. I thought Gillis was having troubles with his rebounds in the 1st and 2nd periods but settled down in the 3rd.
Matt Grassi (1 goal) Played well on the blueline, laid out a few big checks.
The line of Keenan Desmet (2 goals), Conor Morrison (2 assists) and Mark Zengerle all played extremely well. This line has burned the Vipers all regular season and did once again tonight. Desmet was really flying all night, skating hard, looked very good with and without the puck. Played physical as well. Conor Morrison had a few good chances in close, was another player who looked good with the puck.
Matt Wray looked good in the 1st period with some big checks, got off a few good quality shots. Had a few good energy shifts.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The first goal of the game was going to be huge, giving up that first goal just minutes into the game wasnt what the Vipers wanted. The Vipers didnt seem to have their legs going for most of the night, without Cameron Brodie and Steven Weinstein seeing very limited icetime, the Vipers defence looked very tired as the game went on. Vernon has to be better with the man advantage, going 1-8 isnt going to win you hockey games, they need to make the Silverbacks pay for taking that many undisaplined penalties. Vernon really struggled on the powerplay, need more shots on goal. Kory Roy, Cole Ikkala and a few others saw limited icetime, the Vipers were basically rolling two and a half lines for most of the game, Mark Ferner tried mixing up a few of the lines to get things going, but it didnt seem to work. The Vipers with no puck luck, couldnt seem to get a bounce all night. Vernon still needs to step up the physical play.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
You could say tonight was a must win for the Silverbacks, Salmon Arm didnt want to go down 3-1 heading to Vernon for Game 5. The Vipers knew the Backs were going to empty the tanks and they did, playing their best game of the series. Salmon Arm had good jump, skating hard, really moving the puck with a good transition game. Give full credit to the Backs for playing a solid 60 minutes, the defence did a great job at tying up the Viper sticks, really forcing the play, playing very aggresive on the penalty kill and five on five. The Backs almost carbon copied the play from the Vipers last night, clogging up the middle, forcing shots from the outside. Silverbacks penalty kill looked very solid killing off eight of nine minors. Another very physical game, Salmon Arm has done a great job at checking the Vipers top line of Sahir Gill and the Jones Twins. This line has taken a beating, really wearing them down each game. A much nosier crowd tonight at the Sunwave Centre, great to see! Overall a very tight checking game, with not as many scoring chances and shots like past games in this series. Now its a best out of three games with Vernon holding home ice advantage. You knew this was going to be a very tight series as Game 5 is going to be huge for both teams.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Cameron Brodie (Injured)
Nick Amies
Ryan Santana (Injured)
Trent Dorias (AP)
Salmon Arm:
Mike Puddifant
Levi Hantula
Travis Briard
Bobby Lepsett
3 Stars:
1st Star: Bryan Gillis (23 saves)
2nd Star: Keenan Desmet (2 goals)
3rd Star: Connor Jones
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