Vipers Double Silverbacks:

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Vipers double Silverbacks

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-12-30

In a game that provided plenty of entertainment, the Vipers defeated the hometown Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6-3 on Wednesday.

Kyle Murphy led the Vipers with two third period goals and strong penalty killing. The 20-year-old centre showed no effects of his long journey from snow-bound New Jersey.

As in previous games between these teams this season, the Silverbacks got the early jump, outshooting the Vipers 4-0 in the first three minutes.

The fourth shot resulted in a power play goal at 3:24. David Killip won a draw and the ‘Backs controlled play. Eventually, Brett Knowles backhanded a Bryce Gervais rebound past Kirby Halcrow, who had made an acrobatic save on Gervais’s shot.

The penalty that led to the first goal was a checking from behind call issued to Aaron Hadley.

After Knowles’s 19th of the season, the Vipers took over, registering the remaining 17 shots in the period. They were helped by a series of Silverback penalties, one of which led to John Knisley’s power play marker at 15:47.

Knisley got the puck in the left faceoff circle after a win by Mike Zalewski along the boards. Knisley’s quick shot beat goalie Kris Moore who could only deflect the shot with his catcher.

Twenty-eight seconds later, Todd Skirving beat Moore with a wraparound. “I tried to jam it in at the near post and it went high to the far side.”

“It was poetic justice, I guess,” said Skirving, “because we had so many chances and he was making great saves. You just have to keep at it in games like that, and the puck will go in sooner or later.”

Moore was indeed spectacular in the period stopping two labeled Adam Thompson slap shots and diving across to rob Bryce Kakoske when Kakoske’s one-timer looked like a sure goal. He also robbed Trevor Fitzgerald.

Kirby Halcrow has his shining moments also, as he stymied Brett Knowles and Clinton Atkinson early in the period.

In the second period, a fine individual effort by Kevin Mills allowed Salmon Arm to tie the game. Mills knocked down a Viper clearance. The Viper forwards, believing that the puck was leaving the zone, were caught flat footed and Mills veered to the open left half of the zone and deposited a neat backhand past Halcrow.

Again, the Vipers bounced back with two goals. At 4:31, Bryce Kakoske’s quick release from the left faceoff circle beat Moore after tenacious play by Kyle Murphy. Two minutes later, Darren Nowick and Patrick McGillis took advantage of a misunderstanding between Moore and defenceman Jayson Reardon. McGillis was the trigger man.

However, a David Robinson spearing penalty gave the Silverbacks a chance and they capitalized at 16:15. Shorthanded, the Vipers had a glorious scoring chance on a two-on-one, but Kris Moore’s excellent pad save sent the ‘Backs on a counterattack.

Charlie Vasaturo streaked behind the Viper net and set up Jarryd TenVaanholt’s one-timer.

Robinson was also involved in an unfortunate play at the end of the period. He gave Kris Moore a bit of a snow shower. Clinton Atkinson objected and two-fisted Robinson’s head into the end glass. Eventually, the Viper captain made a slow, shaky exit, but did not return for the third period. Atkinson was assessed a major penalty and an ejection for the blow to the head.

Kyle Murphy’s first goal in the final frame came while the teams played four on four. Patrick McGillis centred the puck from the right corner and Murphy got his stick on it as it zipped into the crease.

His second goal was scored short handed with 10 seconds remaining. With a Silverback defenceman in net, Murphy took a pass from Dylan Walchuk, went behind the net and scored on a wraparound.

Murphy, who had travelled all day on Tuesday from New Jersey via Philadelphia, Toronto, and Vancouver, said, “My legs were shaky in the warm up, but eventually the adrenaline kicked in. After all, they had beaten us four times this year, so we had some emotion for this game.”

Coach Mark Ferner was pleased with his team. “We went with five D again, and then we lose Aaron and Dave, but the guys battled. I like the way we came back to get the last 17 shots in the first period. This team works hard, so I’m very happy with their effort.”

Game Notes:

 Salmon Arm did not dress Dustin Cave, Josh McKissock, and Devin Muller.

 Vernon’s Phil Patenaude (injury) and Marcus Basara (suspended for one game) sat in the stands.

 For the third game in a row, the Vipers held
the opposition to fewer than 20 shots in the contest.

 The Silverbacks had won the previous four meeting between the teams this year.