Vipers Mount Comeback In Quesnel:

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Vipers mount comeback in Quesnel

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-10-29

You never know what you’ll get from Quesnel Millionaire goaltender Kirby Halcrow; sometimes he’s brilliant and sometimes he loses his focus. On Friday in Quesnel, he was often brilliant but still lost 4-3 as the Vipers mounted a big third period comeback.

The Millionaires took a 1-0 lead at 4:34 of the first period, when Devin Balness and Justin Hogan combined to free the puck for a Malcolm Gould tap-in on the home team’s first shot on goal. For most of the remainder of the period, the Vipers were dominant, out shooting the home team, 17-6.

A key point in the period came when the Mills killed off a Viper five-on-three man advantage that lasted for a minute and 50 seconds. Halcrow played a key role in that kill.

At the other end of the ice, Blake Voth had some shining moments as well, including two big stops on Malcolm Gould. In the opening period, the other Viper to really impress the Quesnel fans, Malcolm Lyles, laid on three bone crunching hits.

Halcrow had less work in the second period, although he did have to make a couple of big stops on a Viper power play late in the third.

Blake Voth was busier than Halcrow, and was very good. He made an excellent save on Burgart who was in short handed, but could not handle a puck that came off at a strange angle from the lively back boards. The puck bounced some more in the crease. Malcolm Gould got credit for the goal, his third of the year against the Vipers.

The fortunate bounce created just the fifth power play goal of the year for the Millionaires.

Inexperienced referee Justin Neufeld continued to call a series of penalties in the third period. The Vipers started the period on the power play that they were unable to convert. However, they did draw to within one goal with a Dylan Walchuk deflection of a Bryce Kakoske point shot while Devin Balness was in the box. That goal came at 2:01.

The Mills restored their two-goal lead with a power play marker at 7:02. Spencer Graboski notched his sixth of the season with helpers by Chris Kerr and Chris Blessing.

However, as the string of penalties continued, the Vipers tied the game on two more power plays, by John Knisley and Kyle Murphy, both on rebounds from Adam Thompson slap shots.

The Vipers forged ahead on another rebound goal. Shortening his bench, Coach Mark Ferner put Dylan Walchuk on a line with John Knisley and Mike Zalewski. They clicked at 18:44, when Zalewski banged in the puck after Walchuk took the shot.

In the end, Halcrow stopped 39 of 43 shots, but gave up some rebounds that the Vipers were able to cash in.