Viper Lines Strike Against Spruce Kings:

Viper lines strike against Spruce Kings

by Don Klepp -Oct 19, 2009

In a Sunday matinée in Prince George, five different Vipers scored in a 5-1 win over the hard working Spruce Kings. Vernon’s team depth was illustrated, as all four lines scored. As they did in the two previous games in their northern road trip, the Vipers started well, out shooting the Spruce Kings 14-4 in the first period and scoring the game’s first two goals. The Jones-Kane line got things rolling at 7:44. Kellen Jones threw the puck in the corner, where Cory Kane outraced Zac Rasmussen and backed a perfect pass at the top of the crease. Connor Jones was there to bang it home. The Viper power play, which has been hot on this road trip, then clicked at 16:33. Dan Nycholat kept getting chances to shoot from the point his fifth shot bounced out to Dylan Walchuk who buried it. Although they were outplayed in the first period, the Spruce Kings kept on working and they acquitted themselves better in the second. Their dump-and-chase game functioned from time to time, and they fired nine shots at Viper goalie Graeme Gordon. Sam Muchalla scored on one of their two legitimate chances in the period. Wes McLeod knocked the puck out of a scrum at the Viper line, and Nick DeSousa fed Muchalla who went in alone on Gordon. Muchalla’s back hand deke slipped the disk under Gordon to give the Kings momentary hope. Unfortunately for the 1,103 fans attending, the Vipers scored twice in the period. Prior to Muchalla’s marker, Bryce Kakoske had given the Vipers a 3-0 lead at the three-minute mark. On a two on one, Sawyer Mick back handed to Kakoske who one-timed a rocket over Alex Wright’s right shoulder. The Jones line struck again at 10:17. A mad scramble in front of Wright’s goal resulted in both Jones twins being knocked to the ice after getting whacks at the puck, but Cory Kane was eventually able to shovel in a back hand. Despite the Spruce Kings’ persistent effort in the third period, they were smothered by the Vipers who out shot their host 14-6 in the period. Looking like last year’s shut-down team, the Vipers denied Prince George a scoring chance in the final 20 minutes. The only issue was whether the Pimm/Collins/Milhouse trio would join the other three lines on the score sheet. That question was answered at 13.29. On a Viper power play, Braden Pimm tipped in a pass at the crease, with assists going to Collins and Milhouse. The win moved Vernon five points ahead of Penticton, although the Vees have played one less game.

Game Notes:

The Spruce Kings have lost four in a row, three at home this weekend. The Vipers have won seven straight, out scoring the opposition 47-8. They have been particularly deadly in the first period, scoring 20 goals and allowing just 2.
During the Vipers seven-game win streak, the Pimm line has registered 12 goals and 39 scoring points. Braden Pimm, Mike Collins, and Jonathon Milhouse each has at least one scoring point in each of those games.
The Prince George power play slips to last place in the league, at 12.94 percent, while the Vipers’ 23.75 percent power play moves up to fifth in the BCHL after going 8 for 15 on the three-game northern swing.