Vipers Vanquish Saints:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers vanquish Saints

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-04-25

A three-goal outburst in two minutes late in the first period staked the Vipers to a 4-2 lead that eventually translated into a 7-3 victory and a spot in the RBC Cup where they will try to defend their national Junior “A” crown.

Three-year veteran Braden Pimm was the Vipers’ difference maker in this showdown. He opened the scoring in an eventful first period with a short handed goal at 9:30. He converted a rebound from a strong net drive by Jonathan Milhouse who had lugged the puck from the Viper blue line, shrugging off a defender as he cut to Vincenzo Marozzi’s goal.

With the crowd of 1770 still celebrating the Pimm goal, the Saints continued with their power play in the Viper zone. Josh Koper was awarded a penalty shot at 9:52. He beat Gordon with a wicked rising shot, but hit the cross bar.

The reprieve lasted until 11:31 when, against the run of play, Scott Allen equalized for Spruce Grove. Allen’s initial attempt was blocked by Curtis Gedig who had lost his stick. Allen’s second attempt found the inside of the goal post to the left of Graeme Gordon.

Gedig was involved again at 16:34 when his errant pass went straight to Liam Darragh in the slot. Darragh promptly ripped a shot that beat Gordon just under the cross bar.

The Saint’s celebration was short lived. Thirteen seconds after Darragh’s goal, Braden Pimm fired a wicked wrist shot from the left boards that beat Marozzi on the short side.

The drama continued with a Cory Kane goal 36 seconds after Pimm’s marker. Flying in on the right wing, Kane unleashed a low wrister that beat Marozzi on the stick side, just inside the post. Suddenly, the Saint goaltender who had looked invincible in the previous two Saint wins, looked eminently beatable.

That conclusion was confirmed when Kellen Jones ripped a one-timer past Marozzi at 18:55. The goal was set up when Sahir Gill and Connor Jones forced big Ryan Kerr into a turnover. The hard-working Saints were unable to recover from the three-goal onslaught.

The Vipers continued their offensive thrust in the second period, but were able to score just once on 10 scoring chances and 11 shots. After weathering some Saint forechecking pressure, the Vipers struck at 11: 04. Kevin Kraus’s point shot through a forest of legs and sticks was deflected in by Connor Jones.

With a minute remaining in the period, Jordan Draper gave his team some hope when his long shot struck Graeme Gordon in the mid-section and somehow found its way into the net.

Vernon played “kitty-bar-the-door” in the third period and although the Saints pressed, they generated only five scoring chances and were unable to beat Graeme Gordon, who made up for his second-period gaffe with a sensational diving stop on Scott Allen.

Meanwhile, the Vipers benefitted from the Saints’ pinching defencemen, as the home team created several chances of their own. Kellen Jones had the best chance, but his snap shot rang off Marozzi’s left post.

With Marozzi on the bench for an attacker, the Saints didn’t really threaten. Connor Jones and Rob Short capped the Viper victory with empty net goals, and the Viper management started thinking about how to get to Dauphin Manitoba for the RBC tournament that starts on Saturday.

In the final analysis, offence won over defence in this series. The Saints’ grinding style and their unwillingness to quit made the series exciting, but the Vipers’ offensive depth prevailed in the end.

Game Notes:

• Connor Jones finished as the top scorer in the seven games with six goals and four assists.

• Nate Fleming, who was kept off the score sheet in the final game, was the Saints’ top scorer with four goals and three assists.

• Counting playoff and regular season games, each team has recorded 67 victories.

• Braden Pimm’s short handed goal was the Vipers’ 31st of the season and the 7th in the playoffs. Pimm has contributed four of those shorties.