I was at tonight's Game 2 of the Interior Conference Semi-Finals as Westside defeated Vernon 5-2 in front of 1,369 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Kevin Boyle
1st Period: The Vipers would get the games first powerplay of the night just fourty seconds into Game 2. Vernon would struggle and manage just a single shot with the man advantage as the Warriors would get a big boost killing off an early powerplay. The Vipers would re-group and get off to another good start for the second straight night. Vernon moving the puck well, carried the early edge in play. David Robinson with the first good chance of the night, ripped a quick hard high shot from the top of the circle that Kevin Boyle stopped with the knob of his goalstick. It took Westside five and a half minutes to record their first shot on Blake Voth, as Vernon was outshooting the Warriors at this point 6-1 and in control of the game. Just seconds later veteran, Kyle Singleton alone in the slot just ripped his wide of the net on a great chance. The Warriors would then get their first man advantage of the night, on the powerplay Singleton again with a chance from in front was stopped by Blake Voth. The Warriors with some good puck movement got two quick shots from the point that just missed as Westside with some good chances but the Vipers managed to kill off the powerplay. On the next shift Kyle Murphy with a great chance from the high slot was stopped by Kevin Boyle who made a big pad save. With Vernon having the better of the play up to this point, the Warriors would manage to get an odd man rush against the play allowing Tyler French to wind up from the circle, but Blake Voth made the big pad save, kicking out a big rebound that was gobbled up by Tyler Krause who was going hard to the net. Krause at 11:13 gives the Warriors the first lead of the night and the series. French and Travis Blanleil collected the assists. Westside is a perfect 4-0 in these playoffs when scoring the games first goal. Just seconds after the goal the Warriors would get their second powerplay of the night, last night Westside had just one powerplay all night. The Warriors couldnt get much going with the man advantage after looking sharp on the teams first powerplay. Vernon's penalty killers battled hard killing off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Vernon product Bryce Kakoske walked in from the slot before dishing the puck over to Dylan Walchuck whos low shot from just above the circle beat Boyle at 14:01 tying the game 1-1. Kakoske and Patrick McGillis with the helpers. This was a big goal after the Warriors take the 1-0 lead and could have easily gone up 2-0, the Vipers get a big penalty kill and come back on the next shift to tie the game. But seconds after the Walchuk goal the Vipers would head back to the sin bin wich took any momentum away from Vernon giving the Westside Warriors their third man advantage of the night. Westside would capitalise and make the Vipers pay after Tyler Brickler setup Quinn Gould at 16:03 giving the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Gould's shot looked to have been screened as Brickler and Matthew Maher picked up the assists. This was the turning point of the game wich totally changed the hockey game. Vernon got off to a strong start and carried the better of the play early but a Westside goal to open the scoring changed momentum and the game changed as the Warriors now with some confidence got off to a slow start but come back hard scoring two goals to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 12-7.
2nd Period: Westside would get the play in deep off the opening draw, with some good pressure down low, the Warriors had control of the play and would take advantage. Westside captain, Alex Grieve from behind the Vipers goal would bank the puck off of Blake Voth and into the back of the net just fourty three seconds into the middle frame giving Westside a 3-1 lead. Grieve's goal was unassisted. This was the end of the night for Voth who allowed three goals on just eight shots. Tonight was the first night the Vipers havnt rotated goaltenders for the first time since Blake Voth got back to back starts way back on December, 12th and December, 17th. Kirby Halcrow would come in for releif of Voth. The Vipers would then get an early powerplay, Adam Thompsons point shot took took bounces along the way but somehow Boyle made a big pad save. But Kevin Boyle couldnt stop all of the Viper shots. Malcolm Lyles wrist shot from the point would hit a Warrior player (I think it was Tyler French) the Westside forward went down in some pain, wich allowed Lyles to walk in from the slot and wire his shot past Boyle at 4:55 cutting the lead to 3-2. David Robinson with the lone assist. A very spirited period as tempers started to flair up as both teams started to start exchanging words and punches with one another. Just after the Lyles goal, Brett Mckinnon, Aaron Hadley and Max French all got involved in a scrum along the boards as some pushing and shoving took place, with a few punches thrown. In the end Vernon would come out with its second man advantage of the period. The Vipers powerplay just wasnt clicking tonight, as Vernon just didnt look very sharp with the man advantage. Adam Thompsons point shot was tipped in front but stopped by Kevin Boyle. Westside would kill off the minor. The Vipers carried the better of the play in the second period but didnt get alot of real good scoring chances. Westside played a very physical game and was getting under the Vipers skin all night. At times Vernon got a sloppy through out the middle frame and one of the reasons why the Vipers didnt get alot of scoring chances, was alot of individual work as Vernon tried stick handling through the entire Warriors team. Give the Warriors defence credit, they kept the Vipers to the outside most of the night and battled hard, as well as forced alot of turnovers through out tonights game. Vernon would get its third powerplay of the night but again the Vipers couldnt get pucks through as the Warriors penalty kill was very good killing off the minor. With five minutes remaining a mad scramble in front of Kirby Halcrow who was down and out, but Michael Kings shot went high and way over the net as the Warriors come close to making it a two goal hockey game. Late in the 2nd Westside would get a powerplay but unable to capitalize as the period come to an end. Westside was up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 14-10.
3rd Period: The Warriors would start the final frame still with the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. In the final seconds of the powerplay Malcolm Lyles shorthanded tried carrying the puck over the Warriors blueline but coughed up the puck after trying to split two Westside players, the play turned around the other way wich in the end allowed Quinn Gould who setup Tyler Brickler giving the Warriors a 4-2 lead just fifty nine seconds into the 3rd. The Vipers now gave up two goals within the first minute of the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers would come back and carry the better of the play for the remainder of the period but Vernon didnt really generate alot of good chances. The Warriors defence was very strong, laying the body on the Vipers all period, as well as keeping the Vipers to the outside. Vernon did manage to get a few flurries in front of Kevin Boyle with some traffic in front but the Vipers just couldnt get the puck through a maze of players or Mr. Boyle. Any chance or shot the Vipers did get off was easily stopped by Boyle who had very little traffic in front of him. David Robinson had one of the Vipers better chances ringing his shot from the side of the goal off the post. Max Mowats point shot was tipped in front by Bryce Kakoske but Boyle made a nice save with traffic in front. Mowat would later get a second chance with a nice shot from the point but Kevin Boyle with no traffic in front made the easy save. Another great chance for Vernon as Aaron Hadley and Patrick McGillis on a two on one, but Brayden Sherbinin with a nice defensive play broke up Hadley who couldnt get the puck over to McGillis. On the same play back come the Warriors with one of their best chances of the period, as captain Alex Grieve with a nice move in front was stoned by Kirby Halcrow who made one of his bigger saves of the night. Alex Grieve and Tyler Krause on a parcial two on one couldnt beat Halcrow as Krause was stopped by the former Quesnel Millionaire tender. Vernon would get a powerplay but again the Warriors penalty kill was solid killinf off the minor. Late in the 3rd frustration boiled over for the Vipers as several Vernon players showed their frustration taking a few shots at several Warriors in behind the play. David Robinson and Max French got tangled up along the side wall, both players through a few punches at one another as a minor scrum formed as tempers once again heated up. Mark Ferner would call a timeout and get Halcrow to the bench for the extra attacker with two minutes to go. Westside with its first shot at the empty net just missed after icing the play. In the final minute Tyler Krause on the breakaway with Adam Thompson trying to chase him down would hit the empty cage at 19:12 giving Westside a 5-2 lead. Krause's goal was unassisted. Another great turnout of Warrior fans made the trip up for Game 2 and made a huge amount of noise cheering on their hockey club for almost the entire final minute of the 3rd. At the buzzer tempers heated up once again as Kyle Murphy and Shaun Hochhauson exchanged words and a few punches as a minor scrum took place in front of Kevin Boyle. In the end Westside would defeat Vernon 5-2 taking Game 2 and tying the series 1-1 with Game 3 Friday. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 14-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Max Mowat played a solid game on the Vipers backend. Mowat was one of the rare Viper players that stood out this evening. I thought Mowat was very good at both ends of the rink, looked good with and without the puck. Got off a few good shots from the point wich resulted in a few scoring chances.
Trevor Fitzgerald I thought looked alright at times through out tonights game. Through a couple of big checks, played with a little energy.
Top Players: (Westside)
Brayden Sherbinin played a strong game on the Warriors blueline. Made a nice diving play to break up Aaron Hadley and Patrick McGillis on a third period odd man rush.
Quinn Gould (1 goal & 1 assist) looked good up front for Westside. Was involved with the play, looked good with the puck.
Tyler Brickler (1 goal & 1 assist) also looked good for the Warriors.
Tyler French (1 assist) Not the biggest kid but was one of the hardest working players on the ice tonight. Battled and competed hard each and every shift, was very hard in and along the boards, won a few races for the puck. Played with alot of energy.
Alex Grieve (1 goal) The Warriors captain was another kid who looked very good up front for Westside. Had a few scoring chances, was very good with and with out the puck.
Max French was another kid who was one of the hardest working kids on the ice in Game 2. French who was under the skin of almost every Vernon player this evening was exchanging words with several Viper players. French also worked extremly hard, battled and competed all night. Wasnt afraid to muck it up and get involved in the after the whistle activities.
Tyler Krause (2 goals) Krause who played very well in a Game 1 loss, come back with two goals this evening playing very well in back to back games.
Kevin Boyle (38 saves) Picks up his first career win over the Vipers. Boyle who hasnt looked very good against the Vipers during the regular season has looked very good in the first two games of this series. Boyle made the big saves when needed but also saw alot of the Vernon shots. Most of the Viper shots were from well outside with very little traffic, wich Boyle saw all the way.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers got off to a good start, getting the play in deep and having the better of the play early. Vernon with a few good chances early looked good but after controlling the play gave up the games first goal and the game and momentum changed. After a big penalty kill wich could have put the Vipers down two goals, Vernon comes right back and Dylan Walchuk ties the game. The Vipers are back into the game, the crowd is back into the game and momentum starts to change ways once again before the Vipers take their third penalty of the game wich allows the Warriors to take a 2-1 lead wich I think was tonights turning point. Vernon couldnt seem to recover from here on in. Giving up a goal in the first minute of the 2nd and 3rd periods also dont help. I also dont think Vernon got the goaltending they needed tonight, at times when they needed that big save, it just wasnt there. Vernon wasnt the same team after the Warriors opening goal and they just couldnt recover. I dont think Vernon had the same jump and energy they showed in Game 1 nor do I think they were skating as hard as they were last night. In the 2nd period the Vipers with alot of idivdual work tried stick handling through the entire Westside team, and thats not gonna work come playoff time. The Vipers also gave up way too many turnovers, something you cant have at this time of year. Ive said it all season, Vernon is a much better and strong hockey team on the forecheck and tonight they didnt use it. Vernon just didnt battle hard enough tonight, didnt see alot of grit from guys I saw in Game 1 last night. The Vipers wernt hitting and made Kevin Boyle look too good at times. The Vipers need to get more bodies to the net and go to the grey area. Not alot of real great scoring chances tonight. I didnt see what happened but Dane Muench wasnt on the bench in the 2nd and 3rd period.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
You knew after last nights 3-2 loss Darren Yopyk would have his team ready to go tonight. Westside playing their fifth game in seven nights, I dont think got off to a great start. For the second straight night the Warriors were outplayed but still in a scoreless hockey game. A big goal by Tyler Krause opened the scoring as Westside is now 5-0 in the playoffs when scoring first. Krause's opening goal changed the momentum of the game. Westside didnt get alot of great scoring chances but scored on there chances as well as played very well defensively, & got the big save when needed and played physical against Vernon. They also got under the Vipers skin and got them off their game. Give credit to the Warriors for keeping Vernon to the outside as well as really forcing the play wich resulted in alot of turnovers. The Warriors pick up their first victory at the Wesbild Centre this season wich will give the team some confidence heading into Game 5. The Warriors now head home with the series tied 1-1 after a big greasy road win this evening. A loss tonight and Westside comes home down 2-0. Nice to see another fairly large support of Warrior fans who made alot of noise for the second straight night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Phillip Patenaude
Zach McPhee
John Knisley
Westside:
Brett Mulcahy
Stefan Nicholishen
Grayson Downing
3 Stars:
1st Star: Tyler Krause (2 goals)
2nd Star: Quinn Gould (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Dylan Walchuk (1 goal)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=932339&link=bchl
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