Vipers Prevail In Trail:

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Vipers prevail in Trail

by don klepp | Added 2009-12-30

Once again, Connor Jones was the difference in Trail on Tuesday, as the Vernon Vipers prevailed 4-1 in a tight contest that showed how far the Smoke Eaters have progressed since their slow start to the season.

In the opening period, the teams took a few minutes to shake off the rust and then the game accelerated into an exciting affair, with both teams generating scoring chances. In a fast-paced opening 20 minutes, the Vipers had six chances to Trail’s three, but goalie Garrett Beckwith was fortunate that several bounces in his crease did not cross the goal line. Also, Cole Ikkala hit the post at the 10 minute mark, but the period ended scoreless.

The line of Ikkala, Dylan Walchuk, and Rob Short continued to play with verve and intensity in the second period. However, they had no puck luck and they were the only Viper line to be held off the score sheet in this game.

Vernon’s fourth line opened the scoring at 3:04 of the second period. Defencemen Curtis Gedig and Dan Nycholat took turns holding the puck in at the Trail Blue line. Then, Sawyer Mick picked the pocket of Trail defenceman Eric Walker and swept a low 20-foot backhand past Beckwith.

Trail had come out of the first intermission with fire in their eyes and had controlled much of the first three minutes of the second period, but Mick’s goal gave the momentum back to the Vipers, who directed rush after rush at Beckwith for the next 15 minutes.

Connor Jones notched the eventual game winner at 15:36 on a combination play with line mates Cory Kane and Jonathan Milhouse. Kane dumped the puck in the Trail zone’s right corner where Milhouse retrieved it and fed Jones who was coming though the faceoff circle. His quick shot beat Beckwith high on the stick side.

Thomas Abenante brought Trail back into the game with a goal at 17:34. He received a crisp pass from Wade Bennett who had stolen the puck on an aggressive forecheck. Abenante rifled a shot past Graeme Gordon from the high slot. The goal energized the Smoke Eaters, who finished the period as strongly as they had opened it.

Braden Pimm’s hustle and tenacity led to several scoring chances in the first two periods, but the puck did not bounce favorably for him. However, he finally capitalized at 5:01 of the third. After a neutral zone turnover, he and Mike Collins raced into the Smoke Eater zone with one Trail defenceman back. Using Collins as a decoy, Pimm moved left and then right, before tucking a backhand under Beckwith.

On another odd-man rush that resulted from a red line turnover, Connor Jones waited for just the right moment and slipped a backhand pass to Cory Kane who promptly ripped a wrist shot past Beckwith at 10:27.

Kane’s goal capped a freewheikkalaeling third period during which the Vipers edged the Smokies in shots, 14-13. The lively back boards coughed up several unexpected bounces, especially at Vernon’s end, but Graeme Gordon alertly snapped up all of them with his glove.

Game Notes:

• With this victory, the Vipers swept the six-game season series with Trail, by a combined score of 35-10.

• Connor Jones and Cory Kane led the Vipers with six goals each in the six contests.

• Each team went scoreless on two power plays in this game, as referee Grant Tyson was content to let the teams play.

• The Vipers have now scored the first goal in 28 of 38 games this season. They have won 26 of those games and lost two in overtime.

• The Vipers have a chance to shatter goals-against record of 137 set by Penticton in 2006-07. At their current pace, the Vipers will allow just 107 scores this year.

• With Jonathan Milhouse subbing for the injured Kellen Jones on the line with Cory Kane and Connor Jones, the line has registered 12 goals and 28 points in the past four games.

• The line of Sam Mellor, Scott Jacklin, and Nick Sandor looked the most dangerous of the Trail combinations, but they were unable to solve Graeme Gordon, who was sharp on plays in and around the Viper crease.

• With the win, Vernon moved went six points ahead of Penticton in the race for first in the Interior Division.