I was at tonights Game 1 of the BCHL Finals as Vernon defeated Powell River 2-1 in front of 2,485 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Powell River: Josh Watson
1st Period: The Kings got off to a good start playing physical and getting the puck in deep, creating some chances in and around the Vernon net. Chad Niddery was stopped in close by Graeme Gordon. Powell River with a few good chances from the slot but couldnt beat Gordon. The Kings controlled the early edge in play outshooting Vernon 6-2 early. The Vipers would get the games first powerplay and take advantage. Sahir Gill setup Kellen Jones in front who got two wacks at the puck and beat Josh Watson at 12:49 putting Vernon up 1-0. Gill & Curtis Gedig with the assists. This goal seemed to give the Vipers a little life as they started to generate some chances in and around the Powell River net. The Vipers would get a few good chances before the play went back and forth with some good pace. Powell River would get a powerplay but it was Vernon's penalty kill who was solid in killing off the minor. Some good chances at both ends of the rink as Powell River was the better of the two teams. In the dying seconds Dan Nycholat lost the puck at the Vernon blueline, sending Matt Garbowsky & Chad Niddery in on the two on one, Niddery couldnt beat Gordon on a great chance for the Kings. The Vipers were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Powell River outshot Vernon 11-8.
2nd Period: The Kings would start the 2nd on the man advantage wich was carried over from the end of the 1st period. Once again Vernon's penalty kill would kill off the minor. Andrew Pettitt would get the Kings best chance of the period just minutes in on an odd man rush, Pettitt couldnt get his stick on a wide open net after Captain Kevin Kraus just got his stick on the play on a great scoring chance for the Kings. Kellen & Connor Jones on a parcial breakaway couldnt connect on a late pass as the Vipers with a great chance to jump ahead by two. No real intensity coming from both sides in a fairly boring 2nd period with very few chances. Just before the midway mark the glass beside the Vernon bench would break after a big hit along the glass. After a good 15 minute or so delay the game would resume. Not much flow or action in the middle frame after several stopages in play, several pucks going over the glass really seemed to slow down the play. Vernon with the lone powerplay of the period couldnt seem to get much of anything going after a solid penalty kill by the Kings. Ben Schmidt with two good chances shorthanded gave the Kings a chance to tie the game. Connor Jones with a shot from the slot seemed to handcuff Josh Watson, but Watson still managed to make the save. The Vipers with the better scoring chances had a few good chances in and around the Powell River net coming very close to going up 2-0. Vernon was up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Powell River 11-10.
3rd Period: Powell River with an early powerplay just seconds into the 3rd with a great chance to tie the game. The Kings moved the puck well but were unable to get the game tying goal. Vernon would kill off the minor. Vernon would then get an early powerplay, getting some good quality chances. Braden Pimm setup David Robinson in the slot who was robbed by the big pad save of Watson, as the puck went into the corner, it come right back out front to a wide open Robinson who couldnt connect on the pass as the Vipers come very close to grabbing a 2-0 lead. Vernon with some good chances as the Kings killed off the minor. The Vipers then took over the play and dominated the play for most of the 3rd. Dylan Walchuk dumped the puck in from Centre, the puck took a funny bounce off the end boards and fooled Josh Watson, as Watson was forced to make the save. Cole Ikkala was left all alone in front but couldnt get the puck up and over Watson on a great scoring play. Steve Weinstein's point shot was tipped in front by Kellen Jones but Watson come up with the huge toe save keeping the Kings in the game. Powell River couldnt seem to get much going, being hemmed in their oen end as the Vipers poured on all kinds of pressure. The Kings would get a powerplay at the midway mark but again were unable to get one past Graeme Gordon and the Vernon Vipers. Back come Vernon as Kellen Jones setup Connor Jones with an unreal individual effort Jones drove hard towards the net putting a nice move in close beating Watson at 14:19 giving Vernon the 2-0 lead. Kellen Jones with the lone assist. But just under two minutes later Teagan Waugh's shot from just over the Vipers blueline took several funny bounces wich beat Graeme Gordon at 16:01 getting the Kings on the board and giving them life. Cody Rainaldi with the lone helper. Waugh's goal seemed to give the Kings life and turned around the hockey game as now Powell River got things going. The Kings put on the pressure creating chances in and around the Vernon net as the Vipers were hemmed in their own zone. Graeme Gordon made a few good saves from in close. Daniel Carr with a great chance in front with about two and a half minutes remaining was robbed by a huge toe save off Gordon. Ben Schmidt would then get stopped by Gordon. Gordon would then get caught behind the goal as the puck was loose but the Kings couldnt get the puck out front for a chance at the empty net. Gordon and the Vipers got lucky there. Powell River would call a late timeout and get Josh Watson to the bench for the extra attacker. Vernon would win the draw as Connor & Kellen Jones would get the play in over the Powell River blueline, but couldnt hit the empty goal, back come the Kings as they got the puck in deep. The Kings would win the draw and somehow Daniel Carr was left alone in front but couldnt beat Gordon after making a huge save in close. The Kings would pour on the pressure but in the dying seconds the Vipers would get the puck in deep and excape with a 2-1 victory taking Game 1. Vernon outshot Powell River 10-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Dylan Walchuk played very hard tonight, didnt put up any numbers but thought he worked extremely hard all night, went into the grey area's and battled hard.
Connor (1 goal) & Kellen (1 goal & 1 assist) Jones played another good hockey game. These two twins worked very hard tonight, both were skating hard and come up with some nice plays between the two. When these two kids score or setup plays the Vipers are very hard to beat.
David Robinson played a fiesty hard checking game. Robinson another Vernon player who battled hard and competed on every shift. Robinson has been fairly quiet these playoffs but looked solid tonight. Had two great chances early in the 3rd to put Vernon up 2-0.
Rob Short once again played with alot of energy, was skating hard all night. Didnt play as physical as he usally does, but another player who competed and worked hard all game.
Graeme Gordon (29 saves) Gordon made the big save when needed. Was one shot away from tying Tyson Motz's Vipers record with his 5th shutout of the playoffs. Gordon played very well, made some huge saves through out the game. Looked confident all night.
Top Players: (Powell River)
Reid Campbell played a very solid game on the Kings blueline.
Darcy Huisman another Kings d-man that played very well on the backend.
Josh Watson (27 saves) Played a strong game for the Kings. Watson made some big saves through out tonights contest giving the Kings a chance to stay in the game. Watson's biggest save was on Robinson early in the 3rd. Dosnt give up many rebounds, plays his angles well.
Andrew Pettitt played a good game up front for Powell River. Had several chances but couldnt beat Graeme Gordon.
Daniel Carr with a few great chances looked very good for the Kings. Carr likes to go to the net and isnt afraid of the rough stuff.
Chad Niddery is a heck of a hockey player, had some good chances. Niddery played and looked very good in the Kings 5-2 loss back in Vernon in late January. Niddery with two goals then is very dangerous with and without the puck.
Ben Schmidt looked very good on the penalty kill. Another player who played well for the Kings up front.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
In the end the Vipers may have excaped with a 2-1 victory in Game 1. Vernon had the better scoring chances but I thought it was Powell River who was the better of the two teams, not by much. Vernon scored the all important first goal of the game and then how big was Connor Jones goal in the 3rd (game winner) Without Jones goal this game was going to overtime. Two fairly even matched teams but with no real intensity out their tonight, Im sure this will change as the series goes on. The Vipers who didnt play all that physical play much better when hitting. The Vipers did look good along the wall and in and around the net, battled hard and worked hard in the scrums and battles along the boards. The Vipers need to work on winning some faceoffs and playing better defensively in their own end. Vernon looked very strong in the first half of the 3rd getting some great quality chances, goal or two early would have put away the Kings. Overall a pretty good hockey game. Don Klepp said on the post game show this was just the 7th game all season the Vipers have been outshot, a pretty amazing stat.
Game Thoughts: (Powell River)
Powell River got off to a good start and carried the better of the play in the opening period, but were down 1-0. I thought the Kings were the better of the two teams other then maybe the 3rd when the Kings were outplayed until a late surge in the final five or six minutes. Powell River played physical and I thought outhit the Vipers in the 1st period but got away from the physical play as the game went on. Even though the Kings were the better of the two teams, Powell River didnt really generate many quality chances, Vernon had way more chances then the Kings. Powell River has a few big kids, solid defence and strong goaltending. Both teams matchup fairly well. Powell River is very good on the draw, won most of the faceoffs all night. The Kings will be looking for the split in Game 2 tomorrow night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Aaron Hadley (AP)
Trevor Fistgerald (AP)
Darrin Robak
Patrick McGillis
Powell River:
Braden Pears
Jordan Grant
Brandon Formosa
Carter Shinkaruk
3 Stars:
1st Star: Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 goal)
3rd Star: Chad Niddery
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