Vipers Blank Spruce Kings:

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Vipers blank Spruce Kings

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-09-27

The process was unchanged, but the outcome was much different for the Vernon Vipers in Prince George on Sunday as they whitewashed the Spruce Kings 6-0.

On Friday, the Vipers dominated, out shooting the home team 45-13, but were unable to finish plays against Ryan Benitez who backstopped the Spruce Kings to a 3-1 win.

On Sunday, rookie Kirk Thompson tended net for Prince George. Despite the score line, he made a number of fine saves as his teammates were unable to contain the speedy Vipers, who directed 40 shots at the 17-year-old.

At the other end, Blake Voth faced 16 shots. He earned his shutout with two athletic stops in the third period.

Trevor Fitzgerald led the Vipers with two unassisted goals. His first came at 6:38 of the second period, following a ferocious forecheck by his line mates Colton Sparrow and Todd Skirving. The trio, nominally the Vipers’ fourth line, had played a strong game the previous night in Quesnel, and they continued to play aggressively in Prince George.

Fitzgerald also scored a short handed goal, at 13:07 of the third period. He picked up a loose puck at the Viper line, roared down the right wing, and finessed the puck past Thompson.

On another breakaway, Todd Skirving notched his first BCHL goal at 15:24 of the second period. He intercepted a D to D pass at the Viper blue line and out raced defenders to the PG net where whistled a low shot past Thompson’s right pad.

Malcolm Lyles also scored his first BCHL goal when his wrist shot from the point beat Thompson 31 seconds into the game.

Kyle Murphy finished the scoring late in the third period. His laser wrist shot from the left boards found the top corner over Thompson’s catching glove.

After scoring four power play goals the previous night, the Vipers went 0 for 5. The Spruce Kings were unsuccessful in three power plays. The Vipers have improved their penalty killing, holding the opposition scoreless in 16 consecutive opportunities.

The Vipers and the Penticton Vees each won two of three on their northern swing over the weekend. The Quesnel Millionaires blanked the Vees 2-0 on Sunday.