Silverbacks Stymie Vipers Again:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Silverbacks stymie Vipers again

by don klepp Added 2010-01-02

A quick start by the Salmon Arm Silverbacks led to their second win in two days over the hometown Vernon Vipers. Goaltender Tony Ierfino was again the first star as the ‘Backs won 3-1.

Just like on Thursday in Salmon Arm, the Silverbacks opened with an effective forecheck. Once again, the third line of Devin Gannon, Bobby Lipsett, and Josh Manson led the charge, with Manson scoring at 1:16. Gannon and defenceman Josh Monk drew assists.

Then, at 4.19 Levi Hantula made it 2-0 when he converted Matt Cassidy’s feed. Brett Knowles and Cassidy had outworked Viper defenders down deep and Cassidy’s pass from behind the net found Hantula unguarded in front of Graeme Gordon. At that point, with the shots 7-1 in favour of Salmon Arm, Coach Jason Williamson replaced Gordon with Blake Voth.

Voth was victimized by Mark Zengerle at 10:37. On an innocent looking rush, Zengerle threw the puck toward the net. It was going wide, but it bounced off a skate at the side of the net, and the Silverbacks had a lead that Ierfino and an improving Salmon Arm defence corps were able to protect for the next 50 minutes. The score could have gone to 4-0 if not for a lunging glove save by Voth on BCHL scoring leader, Zengerle.

There was no scoring in the second period, although Kevin Kraus’s shot rang off the post with Ierfino beaten. Salmon Arm played conservatively, clogging up the middle in their zone. Ierfino’s angles were very good, so the Viper shooters tried to hit the corners of the net and frequently missed. They did out shoot the ‘Backs 13-7 in the period.

The Vipers were most dangerous on the penalty kill in this game and could have had four or five short handed goals if not for Ierfino’s heroics. Their lone goal did come on the PK, at 8:43 of the third. Adam Thompson gloved the puck out of his zone. It was picked up by Rob Short, who raced away with Jonathan Milhouse on an odd-man rush. Short drew the defender to him and found Milhouse at the goal crease for a tip-in. On that same Salmon Arm power play, Ierfino foiled another Viper 2 on 1 with a sprawling save.

Meanwhile, Blake Voth was showing the form that has him leading the league in save percentage. In the second half of the period, Viper defencemen took chances in order to generate scoring chances. Taking advantage, Tyler Gubb went to the Viper net uncontested, but he was stoned by Voth.

Game Notes:

• Vernon was without the Jones twins for this game. Kellen is recovering from a broken jaw while Connor had the flu.

• Salmon Arm now has 17 wins in the 18 games the Silverbacks have led going into the third period.

• The three stars were, Ierfino, Zengerle, and Milhouse.