I was at tonight's Game 3 of the Interior Conference Finals as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 5-1 in front of 1,673 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kris Moore
1st Period: Just twenty seconds into the opening period, the Vipers with some nice passing setup Kyle Murphy in the slot who ripped his shot just high and over the goal. The Vipers outshooting the Silverbacks 4-0 early as Salmon Arm needed the first three minutes to record their first shot on goal. Four minutes into the period Paul De Jersey with a wicked shot from the circle just missed the net. Just before the midway mark Captain, David Killip with a wrap around was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Vernon would open the scoring after Captain, David Robinson's shot beat Kris Moore at 11:46 giving the Vipers the 1-0 lead and first lead of the series. Malcolm Lyles collcted the only assist on the goal. Vernon is 4-0 when scoring the first goal in the playoffs, while Salmon Arm is 0-1 in the playoffs when giving up the games first goal. Just under three minutes later Vernon product, Bryce Kakoske with a big shot from the circle was stopped by Kris Moore who kicked out a big rebound, Kakoske stayed with the play and then beat Moore from the side boards at 14:29 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Ryan Renz with the lone helper. Just seconds later the Silverbacks would get the games first powerplay. Salmon Arm moved the puck around as Vernon did a great job at blocking the shooting lanes before Clinton Atkinson's point shot was tipped in front by Brett Knowles at 15:32 making this a one goal game. Atkinson and Bryce Gervais picked up the assists. Mark Ferner argued with the referee that the goal was knocked in with a high stick, but the goal stood. Just under a minute later Salmon Arm would get their second man advantage of the night but the Vipers killed off the minor. Not a whole lot of chances as both teams looked fairly even through out the 1st period. Vernon had a little more sustained pressure at times. The Vipers were up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 14-6.
2nd Period: Darren Nowick with a great chance five minutes into the frame couldnt beat Kris Moore at the side of the net. The Backs would get an early powerplay, for the second straight powerplay Vernon's penalty kill was good blocking all shooting lanes and keeping the Silverbacks to the outside. David Robinson killed most of the penalty off himself after eating alot of the clock deep in the Backs zone, as Robinson had four Silverbacks trying to steal the puck away from him along the boards. In the dying seconds of the man advantage a Vernon player would trip just inside the Viper blueline allowing an odd man rush the other way, with traffic in front Kirby Halcrow stood his ground making a tough save on the goal line. Both teams looked fairly even in the first half of the period, again not alot of scoring chances. Vernon would take over and was the better of the two teams in the second of the period. The Vipers with some strong forecheck had Salmon Arm running around in their own end, Aaron Hadley couldnt get off a strong backhand missing the open cage as Kris Moore was down and out. The Vipers kept up the pressure hemming the Backs in their own zone as Darren Nowick setup Mike Zalewski in front who beat Moore at 15:15 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Nowick and John Knisley with the assists. Just seconds later Salmon Arm would get another shot at the powerplay, but again Vernon's penalty kill was very solid before the Silverbacks would get called for a minor making for some four on four action. In the dying seconds Vernon would get a late powerplay that would carry over into the 3rd. The Vipers were the better of the two teams in the second half, Vernon's penalty kill, forecheck and hard work was too much for the Silverbacks. The Vipers with a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-7.
3rd Period: The Vipers started out the 3rd on the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. Vernon couldnt capitalize on the powerplay as Salmon Arm's penalty kill was good killing off the minor. The Silverbacks would get an early powerplay but again the Vipers penalty kill was very strong, forcing the Backs to move the puck around, blocking the shooting lanes and not allowing Salmon Arm to setup down low. With Vernon's strong forecheck this allowed Mike Zalewski to steal the puck and then go in for the shorthanded breakaway but Zalewski was stopped by Moore in close as Vernon killed off the minor. Just seconds later Vernon would get another shot with the man advantage, the Vipers moved the puck around well as Mike Zalewski setup Patrick McGillis in the slot who beat Moore at 6:18 giving Vernon a 4-1 lead. Zalewski and David Robinson with the helpers. Just seconds later Salmon Arm would get another shot on the powerplay, but another strong penalty kill by the Vipers. Just as the powerplay expired Marcus Basara setup Dylan Walchuk who beat Moore at 9:07 giving the Vipers a 5-1 lead. Basara and Patrick McGillis collected the assists on a hard working shift. Seconds later Vernon would get another man advantage and come up with some good chances. The Vipers really moved the puck well, setting up John Knisley at the dot but Knisley I dont think got off a good shot missing a wide open cage. On the same play, the puck come over to Mike Zalewski at the side of the goal who beat Kris Moore but hit the post. Salmon Arm would eventually kill off the penalty. From here on in it was all Vernon as Salmon Arm didnt look very good at all the entire 3rd. The Backs were missing passes, couldnt get any offence deep in the Vipers zone and were having all kinds of trouble breaking through the neutral zone as the Vipers completely shutdown the Backs offence most of the night. Salmon Arm was frustrated taking some undisaplined penalties in the final frame. The Vipers just got the puck in deep and then chased in after it, killing off valuable time off the clock. The Silverbacks would get some pressure deep in the Vipers zone with about five minutes remaining, this was the most pressure Salmon Arm had in the Vipers zone most of the night. With no real chances Brad Reid would get a great chance from the slot with three and a half minutes remaining but Kirby Halcrow made a big pad save. Late in the period the Vipers would get a late powerplay, Vernon moved the puck around killing most of the time off the clock winding down the final minute or two of the period as the Vipers didnt really get any quality shots as Salmon Arm killed off the minor. With just nine seconds remaining Ryan Renz and Bryce Gervais exchanged words before getting tangled up with one another as the Silverbacks frustrations continued. In the end Vernon would pick up a huge 5-1 victory to climb back into the series. The Vipers outshot the Backs 13-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Malcolm Lyles (1 assist) Didnt have alot of flash or end to end rushes like he normally does but played a very solid defensive game on the backend.
Brett Corkey also played very well defensively on the Vipers blueline.
David Robinson (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a hard fought game all night. The Silverbacks were trying to get under Robinson's skin this evening but the Viper captain battled through it, playing very well up front. Was very solid on the penalty kill.
Aaron Hadley stepped up his game tonight, I thought played very well up front for Vernon. Come up with a few good opportunities. Played physical, battled hard and competed.
Darren Nowick (1 assist) This kid really competes and battles hard each and every night. He may not put up the numbers and isnt one of the biggest kids out their, but plays with a big heart. Was very good at both ends of the rink, another player who looked very good on the penalty kill. Had lots of jump and energy all night.
Kyle Murphy had lots of jump and energy in his game tonight. Played very well up front.
Patrick McGillis (1 goal & 1 assist) had a very strong game up front for the Vipers. McGillis who has played very well in the playoffs, was another Viper who battled and worked very hard tonight.
Steve Weinstein was another d-man that played very well on the Vernon blueline.
Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) Kakoske who started out the season as one of the best Vipers has cooled off since just before christmas and hasnt really been very noticable but played much better tonight. I thought played well up front scoring the game winner. I think Kakoske has a nice shot and should use it more.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
I didnt think any Silverbacks played or looked all that great tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
For just the second time this season the Vipers have defeated the Salmon Arm Silverbacks with a pretty convincing 5-1 victory. Both Viper victories have come at the Sunwave Centre. After getting blown out 6-0 at home in Game 2 the Vipers responded with a hard fought 5-1 win playing a full 60 minutes. Vernon who is now 5-0 in the playoffs when scoring first was skating tonight, and played with alot more energy and jump compared to Games 1 & 2. Vernon looked like a different hockey team tonight after Games 1 & 2. I thought the Vipers scored on most of their chances, skated hard, looked good on the forecheck and looked much better defensively. Vernon did a great job at shutting down the Silverbacks offence, blocking the shooting lanes and didnt give Salmon Arm alot of time and space to create or setup chances. Give the Vipers defence alot of credit, playing with just five defenceman the Vipers defence was very solid all night. Kirby Halcrow didnt have alot of tough saves tonight. Vernon was in the face of the Backs most of the night, forcing them to force a play. The Vipers also did a great job at limiting the Silverbacks chances and looked very strong on the penalty kill. The Vipers got some scoring from players that havnt scored much in the playoffs, getting some timely goals from some big players. Tonight was a must win and now the Vipers forced a Game 5 back home Thursday making this a series.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
This was a different Silverbacks hockey club compared to Games 1 & 2. Was Salmon Arm a little over confident after winning the first two games? I didnt think the Backs looked or played that well at all this evening. Salmon Arm couldnt get much of anything going tonight. The Backs were having all kinds of trouble breaking out of their own end, creating chances, getting quality shots and had troubles with the Vipers speed and forecheck. As the game went on the Silverbacks looked frustrated taking some undisaplined penalties in the 3rd. Salmon Arm is now 0-2 when giving up the first goal of the game in the playoffs. You can bet Tim Kehler will have his troops ready to play tomorrow night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Phillip Patenaude (Injured)
Dane Muench (Injured)
Colton Sparrow
Salmon Arm:
Josh Manson
Josh McKissock
Brandon Mistal
3 Stars:
1st Star: David Robinson (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Malcolm Lyles (1 assist)
3rd Star: Patrick McGillis (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=935593&link=bchl
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