Vipers Tie Again:

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Vipers tie again!

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-12-18

For the fourth time this season, the Vipers skated to an overtime draw as Kyle Murphy notched a third period equalizer in Friday night’s 1-1 game in Penticton.

Malcolm Lyles made the play with a patented rush down the right side. His room mate, Murphy, went to the net and redirected Lyles’s centering feed to the far side of the net.

It was the only puck to get past Joel Rumpel, whose first-star performance included several game saving stops in overtime. Overall, Rumpel stopped 39 of 40 Viper shots.

The Vipers had nearly all the scoring chances in overtime, but Rumpel stoned Dylan Walchuk and Mike Zalewski twice each.

Rumpel’s crowning moment, however, came on a Dylan Walchuk penalty shot at 3:54 of the second overtime. Steve Weinstein had his stick slashed out of his hand and prepared to take the penalty shot.

His coach had other ideas, sending Walchuk to take the shot. The Vipers’ leading scorer made several moves, but Rumpel stayed with him and blocked Walchuk’s forehand flick.

A few seconds later, Blake Voth had his turn to shine, sliding across to smother Kyle Mountain’s one-timer after Mountain had been set up on a two-on-one rush.

The Vees’ lone marker came on a power play early in the second period.

Joey Laleggia’s point shot pinballed through a crowd in front of Blake Voth and Joey Holka batted it out of the air for his 5th power play goal of the season.

The goal came on just the Vees’ fourth shot on net, because they were completely stifled in the first period, managing just two shots on Voth.

Following the Holka strike, the Vees started to have more of the play, and they would have added to their lead if not for two fine saves by Voth. He left Myles McCauley and Joey Benik shaking their heads.

The Vipers weathered the brief storm, and outplayed the Vees in the third period. Again, Rumpel was the difference; he looked ready to post a shut out, but Lyles and Murphy spoiled his bid.

Marcus Basara was ejected for a goaltender interference call at 17:32 of the second period because Malcolm Lyles had earlier received the same penalty.

Basara disagreed with the call: “For one thing, he was out of the crease, and then he ran into me, more or less accidentally I think.”

Game Notes:

• In four games between the teams, the Vipers have outscored the Vees 13-4 and have taken 7 of 8 possible points. Two games remain in the season series, both in Vernon.

• In 14 overtime games this season, the Vipers have won four, tied four, and lost six.

• Penticton has a record of four wins, two ties, and one loss in seven OT matches.

• Vernon Midget Viper Danny Todosychuk dressed as Blake Voth’s backup while Kirby Halcrow returned to his Alberta home to attend to a family matter.

• Max Mowat returned to the Viper lineup, but the Vipers once again went with five defencemen due to Philip Patenaude's injury.

• The tie resulted in Penticton maintaining its one-point lead over Vernon in the Interior Division standings. Both teams gained a point on Salmon Arm, who blew a four-goal lead in the third period and lost 6-4 to Westside. Trail also lost, 4-0 to Nanaimo.