Vipers Win Overtime Thriller:

Vipers win overtime thriller

by Don Klepp -Apr 9, 2009

Carsen Chubak made 67 saves for the Powell River Kings in Vernon, but he eventually bowed to the inevitable when Sahir Gill scored at 5:31 of triple overtime. The Vipers won 3-2, and now lead the BCHL final series three games to one. The Vipers dominated the Kings from the middle of the third regulation period, but Chubak made one sensational stop after another to keep his team in the contest. Perhaps his best stop was on Chris Crowell earlier in the third overtime. On an odd-man rush, Braden Pimm fed Crowell who ripped a shot from 15 feet Chubak hurled himself across the crease and blocked the rising shot with his chest. Vernon finished the game with 70 shots and an amazing 42 quality scoring chances. The Vipers seemed to have more energy than the Kings as the game wore on, especially in the second overtime period when they out shot the Kings 16 to 6 and out-chanced them, 10 to 2. In the final frame, they outshot the tired Kings 8 to 1. The game started quite differently as both teams played hard and well for the first two periods. And, although the Vipers had a slight edge in play, the Kings led 2-1 at the end of the second period. Both their goals came from dogged determination. At 10:42 of the first period, Erik Vos banged in a rebound as all three King forwards were in Andrew Hammond’s crease. Viper Captain Chris Crowell argued that they had interfered with Hammond, but referee Andrew Guest allowed the goal. Jordan Grant scored in the second period by out-muscling both Viper defencemen, driving to the goal, and tucking the puck under Andrew Hammond. The King goals erased a Viper first period lead that had been supplied by Mike Collins on a power play at 5:22. Collins gathered in a pass at the right faceoff circle, moved back to the point, stickhandled around two defenders as he cut to the left, and rifled a wrister over Chubak’s glove. It proved to be the only power play goal of the night as the Vipers went 1 for 6 and the Kings 0 for 7 with the man advantage. With Chubak looking unbeatable in net, the Kings seemed ready to tie the series as they nursed their one-goal lead in the third period. But Braden Pimm changed all that with a solo effort at 3:13. He stole the puck from Jordan Gallea at the Viper blue line, roared down the right wing, and beat Chubak with a howitzer from the top of the right faceoff circle. From that point on, it was clear that one goal would win the contest, but neither goaltender would allow that go-ahead marker. Chubak robbed Kane, Pimm, Kakoske, and Collins as the period wore on. And Hammond did the same to league scoring leader Darcy Oakes on two occasions. Also, Mike Leidl dived to break up a Chad Niddery breakaway with 1:12 left in regulation. The two teams will get in their respective buses early Thursday morning for the 12-hour trip to Powell River, where they will meet in game 5 on Friday evening. The Vipers can wrap up the series with a victory, but the Kings will not go without a fight.