Vees' Power Play Sinks Vipers:

Vees' power play sinks Vipers

by Don Klepp

Dec 5, 2009

A strong second period by the Penticton Vees keyed a 4-1 victory over the home town Vernon Vipers on Friday.

Play was even in the first and third periods, with each team showing spurts of dominance. However, the Vees took over in the second, out shooting the Vipers 17-8 and scoring two power play goals that essentially decided the contest.

Coming into this game, the Vipers had allowed just 4 power play goals on 57 opposition manpower advantages at the Wesbild Centre. The Vees, though, have the league’s best power play. On its second opportunity of the game, it clicked when Garrett Milan tipped in Joey Laleggia’s hard low point shot at 10:10. The goal culminated a slick bit of passing by the Vees with much of the play directed through Denver Manderson.

The back breaker for the Vipers came on a controversial play. After Ben Sexton interfered with Connor Jones at centre ice, Joey Holka beat Graeme Gordon. Holka’s 15th of the season made the score 4-1 at 17:56.

In the third period, the Vipers and Vees each had good scoring chances during power play time, but Graeme Gordon and the Vees’ Sean Bonar were very good. Bonar received some help from his goal posts, however. With Penticton’s Denver Manderson in the penalty box, Bryce Kakoske beat Bonar, but put the puck off the outside of the post. Later, on another Viper man advantage, Dan Nycholat and Mike Collins each hit iron.

The first period had been a see-saw affair. The Vipers had the early jump, as the Jones line opened the game with a lively forecheck and their patented three-man cycle. The next Viper lines continued to harass the Vees, but after the three-minute mark, the Vees started an effective dump-and-chase game of their own.

An early turning point came after Patrick McGillis caught the Vees’s Ryan Viselli with a hard check in the Vees’ end. Viselli came off favoring his left leg and did not return. The play occurred at 6:39. Fired up, the Vees responded with a fierce forecheck and Alex Szczechura scored just 15 seconds after Viselli limped off. The right handed Szczechura came off the left boards and into the faceoff circle where he wired a low shot past Gordon.

Denver Manderson doubled the Vee advantage 24 seconds later. The Vees gained control on the faceoff following Szczechura’s goal and dumped the puck into Viper territory. The Vees then sent all three forwards in to check, and Manderson pounced on a loose puck to bury his 22nd of the season.

The Vipers’ lone goal also came in that first period. Following the Vees’ two-goal flurry, the Vipers rebounded with some strong play. They were rewarded when Patrick McGillis’s determined forecheck freed the puck for Bryce Kakoske, who rifled it over Bonar’s shoulder.

Game Notes:

•For the first time this season, the Vipers were out shot in a contest, as Penticton registered 36 shots to Vernon’s 25.

•Viselli did not return after his first period collision with Patrick McGillis.

•Kellen Jones was hit in the mouth with a puck in the third period, and he did not return for the remainder of the game.