Vipers Get Revenge In Merritt:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers get revenge in Merritt

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-02-16

Smarting from Friday’s overtime home loss to the Merritt Centennials, the Vipers gained a measure of revenge with a solid 5-2 win in Merritt on Tuesday.

Five different Vipers handled the scoring, including two with the man advantage. Both of Merritt’s goals came on the power play.

Merritt struck early. Referee Steve Papp called Max Mowat for holding just 29 seconds into the game and Sean Maktaak deposited a Brandon Pfeil rebound past Kirby Halcrow at 2:01.

The Centennials had the early jump in this game, as they effectively played their dump and chase game for the first half of the opening period.

However, the Vipers gained some momentum when they killed an Adam Thompson penalty starting at 9:32. From that point, they moved the puck well and spent much of the rest of the period – and the second period as well – in the Merritt zone.

Vernon’s offensive thrust paid dividends when Marcus Basara, who had a consistently strong game, scored at 16:57. The play was initiated by Malcolm Lyles. He lugged the puck from his end to the Merritt faceoff area, where he spun twice to avoid being checked and dished off to Colton Sparrow, who found the unmarked Basara.

The Vipers totally dominated the second period, outshooting the Cents 18-6 and creating 11 scoring chances. If not for Lino Chimienti’s outstanding goaltending, Vernon would have scored five or six times.

They did beat Chimienti twice, both on the power play.

John Knisley got the first, at 4:51. Chimenti kicked out his right pad to deflect Adam Thompson’s slap shot to his right, but Knisley one-timed the puck past the goalie on the short side.

David Robinson scored the eventual winner at 6:53 from five feet after Chimienti had blocked a Malcolm Lyles drive and a shot by Bryce Kakoske. By this time the Vipers were rampant, but Chimienti held the fort.

His shot stopping took on extra significance when the Centennials closed the gap to 3-2 with Regan Soquila’s power play marker at 9:42 of the third period. Through traffic, Kirby Halcrow was able to see and block JP Witkop’s point shot, but the puck fell kindly for Soquila, who had an easy tap in.

Vernon put the game away with goals by veterans Dylan Walchuk and Bryce Kakoske. The Walchuk goal came just 14 seconds after the Merritt goal. Walchuk won the faceoff. Then, Pat McGillis and Dane Muench won the puck after a shoot in. Left alone in front for Muench’s pass, Walchuk picked the corner from 16 feet.

Kakoske closed the scoring when he stole the puck from Reece Willcox at the edge of Chimienti’s crease, whirled and sneaked a back hand past the goalie.

With 81 points, the Vipers now lead Salmon Arm and Penticton by five points in the race for first place in the Interior Division. The Silverbacks, who have two games in hand, begin a four-game coastal road trip Wednesday in Powell River. In order to finish first, Salmon Arm will have to run the table and hope the Vipers drop one of their remaining games.

The Vipers will host Trail on Friday and Quesnel on Sunday afternoon, to close the season