Vipers Win Another In Overtime:

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Vipers win another in overtime

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-02-03

Malcolm Lyles scored with 1.1 seconds remaining in the first overtime period to defeat the Nanaimo Clippers 2-1 on Wednesday.

For the third straight game, the Vipers won in overtime, a trend that concerns Vipers’ head man, Mark Ferner: “We have to bear down as hard in the first period as we do when the game’s on the line. You never know which play is going to make the difference in the game.”

His words nearly proved prophetic after the Vipers were unable to convert several good scoring chances in the first two periods.

On the power play midway through the first period, Kyle Murphy’s sharp angle shot glanced off both posts and out. A few seconds later, he had the same shot from just outside Charles-Andre Pelletier’s crease. This time, Pelletier slid across to rob the Viper centre.

The Clippers had started the game well, registering the game’s first five shots before a Gerry Fitzgerald penalty at 7:13 helped the Vipers turn the tide. However, Pelletier played well throughout the period and the game was scoreless going into the first intermission.

Again, the Clippers started the second period with a strong forecheck, a strategy that resulted in a Mike Domsodi goal at 6:34. Netminder Blake Voth stopped shots by Brodie Jamieson and Victor Newell, but Domsodi collected a juicy rebound and deposited a backhand past Voth.

Nanaimo had chances to increase the lead, with four power plays in the second and third periods, but the Vipers allowed only one scoring chance while down a man. They also came close to scoring shorthanded, but Patrick McGillis missed the top of the net by a couple of inches.

The Vipers showed more urgency in the third period, but were unable to break the goose egg until David Robinson scored with 4:47 remaining in regulation.

Bryce Kakoske made the play, finding a rebound deep in his team’s zone and carrying the puck all the way to the high slot in front of Pelletier. Kakoske’s low shot came off Pelletier, but first Kyle Murphy and then David Robinson made contact and the game was tied.

In the overtime, the Vipers generated four of the five scoring chances, including Lyles’s winner.

In his words, “Kyle won a tough faceoff back to me by our net and I skated it up ice and gave it to Pat McGillis. He got it across their line to the faceoff dot. Somehow he slipped it to me through the defenceman’s skates. I just shot it low and it went in on the far side.”

Lyles, who had a strong two-way game for the Vipers is having a good week. On Tuesday, he committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell for next year. Coach Ferner believes that “Malcolm has become one of the premier defencemen in this league because of his athleticism and his growing knowledge of his position. But I believe that we haven’t yet seen the best of Malcolm Lyles; he’s getting better all the time.”

Game Notes:

• The Vipers have now played a league high 19 overtime games, winning 7 and losing 8, to go with 4 ties.

• The Clippers dressed five Quebecois players. Two others, Zach Martin and Yannick LaFlamme, were out with injury.

• The Vipers were without the injured Adam Thompson and Mike Zalewski. Also, Zach McPhee was called up to play in Kamloops for the Everett Silvertips, who have injury woes of their own.

• David Robinson’s goal was his team-high 28th.

• Ryan Renz has now been involved in three overtime wins against the Clippers this year. While playing for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he scored an OT winner on September 18, and he assisted on Josh Mitchell’s winner on November 4.