I was at tonight's Interior Conference Semi-Finals Game 5 as Vernon defeated Westside 7-1 in front of 1,469 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Kevin Boyle
1st Period: The Vipers would get off to a good start controlling the play early but couldnt generate any real good scoring chances. The Warriors would get the games first scoring chance after a point shot from Matthew Maher that went through a screen in front but somehow was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Vernon would get an early powerplay but like this series would struggle as the Warriors killed off the minor. The Vipers would get their first best chance of the night after Trevor Fitzgerald would setup Aaron Hadley on a two on one, but Kevin Boyle stuck out his left pad making a huge save off Hadley keeping the game scoreless. Dylan Walchuk went for the puck giving Baryden Sherbinin, Travis Blanleil and Max French a three on one but the Warriors were unable to capotalize after the Vipers hustled back breaking up the odd man rush with a diving defensive play. Vernon would get its second powerplay of the night but would go 0-2 with the man advantage as the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first half of the opening period before the Warriors would slowly pick up their game in the second half. Just after a big penalty kill Westside would get their first powerplay of the night. The Warriors moved the puck around well before getting a great chance in front but Brett Corkey with a diving play stopped the puck from going in. Before the minor ended Westside would get a short two man advantage but it was the Vipers penalty kill that was very strong. Westside with two real good chances in close couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow. Darren Nowick, David Robinson and Dylan Walchuk all looked very strong on the penalty kill, Robinson would get a great chance shorthanded but couldnt beat Kevin Boyle from in close as Vernon would kill off the minor. Westside battled back as both teams were fairly even in the second half. A very entertaining and exciting 1st with chances at both ends of the rink. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 10-7.
2nd Period: Tom Kroshus's point shot early to start the 2nd period went through a screen in front but somehow Kirby Halcrow made the save. The Vipers with several early turnovers inside their blueline got lucky as Westside couldnt capitalize on Vernon's defensive mistakes. On atleast three seperate occasions the Vipers were caught running around in their own end but the Warriors couldnt capitalize. Max French setup Grayson Dowing who returned to the Warriors lineup tonight on a two on one, Dowing beat the Vernon d-man cutting hard towards the goal going in for the breakaway but looked to have got in too deep and didnt get a shot off back come the Vipers the other way on the same play, sending Marcus Basara in for the breakaway but Basara couldnt beat Boyle who made a big save. Back come the Warriors who had the Vipers scrmabling in their own end, with Kirby Halcrow down and out Dru Morrison alone in the slot had Halcrow down and out but Morrison couldnt get his shot high and over Halcrow who ended up making a save I dont think he saw. Vernon would get a powerplay but couldnt capitalize going 0-3. Just after the man advantage the Vipers would regain control allowing Adam Thompson whos shot from the point was tipped in front before captain, David Robinson who was battling in front beat Kevin Boyle at 8:30 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Thompson and Bryce Kakoske with the assists. The Vipers are 2-0 in these playoffs when scoring first. Westside on the other hand is 0-5 in these playoffs when giving up the games first goal. Just shortly after Mike Zalewski with some soft hands went in all alone making a nice move in close beating Boyle at 13:10 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Back come the Warriors who regained control, moving the puck around well setup Kyle Singleton who was alone in the slot, Singletons shot was stopped after Halcrow kicked out the right pad making a huge pad save. A goal here and we have a 2-1 game but instead just after this save Vernon would go on their fourth powerplay and this time capitalize. Marcus Basara with a nice feed down low to Patrick McGillis who beat Boyle at the side of the net at 14:23 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Basara and Dylan Walchuk collected the helpers. On the goal Boyle looked to have either pulled his groin or a hamstring. Boyle would leave the hockey game and not return making 16 saves. Former Merritt Centennial Cole Holowenko would take over for the Warriors. Just shortly after the Vipers thought they went up 4-0 after Marcus Basara beat Holowenko but rang his shot off the post. Late in the period with the Vipers now slowly taking over the edge in play Max Mowat fed Darren Nowick whos shot was stopped by Holowenko but Nowick poked the rebound fivehole at 17:50 putting the Vipers up 4-0 and in full control. Mowat with the lone helper. Holowenko complained to referee Steve Papp saying he had the puck covered but the goal stood. Vernon would get a late powerplay but unable to find the back of the net before the buzzer. The Warriors with several glorious scoring chances in the first half couldnt capitalize on their chances before Vernon opened the scoring and slowly took over the edge in play. The Vipers were up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 14-7.
3rd Period: The Vipers would start the 3rd on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the middle frame. Just as the minor expired Kyle Singleton with a great chance couldnt get the puck past Halcrow who made a big blocker save. Marcus Basara would use his wheels come down the right wing and rip a hard shot that just went high and over the far corner. The Vipers didnt quit as Patrick McGillis would go in for the breakaway and beat Cole Holowenko at 1:53 giving the Vipers a 5-0 lead. McGillis's goal was unassisted. Vernon who carried the better of the play early and often would jump on another powerplay before going on a two man advantage after captain, Alex Grieve laid a huge elbow-check to the head to Kyle Murphy in the corner of the Warriors zone. Grieve would get a five minute major and get tossed from the hockey game. On the play head coahc and gm, Darren Yopyk was very upset with the call, after opening the gate to the Westside bench Yopyk would get two minute bench minor giving the Vipers a long two man advantage. With the Vipers on the two man advantage Adam Thompson's point shot beat Holowenko at 7:15 giving Vernon a 6-0 lead. Thompson's goal was unassisted. Vernon moved the puck around getting several good quailty shots and scoring chances as most of the powerplay was kept in the Warriors end. Dylan Walchuk would eventually beat Holowenko at 11:19 on the man advantage giving the Vipers a 7-0 lead. Malcolm Lyles and Marcus Basara would pick up the helpers. This period was all Vernon as the Vipers were all over the Warriors. The Vipers would get a bit of a scare after Dylan Walchuk and a Warrior player both went down in front of the Vernon bench, it looked like Walchuk may have taken a stick or skate to his face as Walchuk went to the Vipers dressing room and would stay in the game. A shot from the point was stopped by Cole Holowenko as the rebound went off Michael King and just about went past Holowenko as King scooped the loose puck from the crease and stopped it from going in. The Vipers really slowed down the pace in the second half just winding down the clock. Westside would get its best action deep in the Vipers zone late in the 3rd getting some good pressure deep but really couldnt get much offence going. Late in the period Ryan Renz would stick out his knee on Tyler Krause who went down in a hurry, Krause would stay down before being helped off the ice and would not return. On the play Michael King went after Renz as both players dropped the gloves. Both players would get tossed as Renz was also given a five minute major for kneeing. On the powerplay the Warriors moved the puck around before finding Tyler French in the slot who beat wich looked to be a stunned Kirby Halcrow fivehole at 19:02 making it 7-1 Vipers. Brett McKinnon and Stefan Nicholishen collcted the assists. In the end Vernon would easily win Game 5 7-1 taking a 3-2 series lead with a chance to end the Warriors season tomorrow night in Game 6 in Westside. Vernon outshot Westside 11-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Malcolm Lyles (1 assist) Other then a turnover in his own end, I thought Lyles played very solid on the Vipers blueline. Played very well defensively, made some real smart heads up plays through out tonights game. Was very hard to knock off the puck. Played smart hockey.
Brett Corkey has really come into his own in these playoffs and playing some of his best hockey of the season. Corkey looked very strong at both ends of the rink. Made a heck of a diving play defensively in the 1st to stop a Warriors shot from going in.
The line of Patrick McGillis (2 goals), Dylan Walchuk (1 goal & 1 assist) and Marcus Basara (2 assists) looked real good for Vernon. This line showed alot of hustle and hard work through out tonights game. McGillis has scored a few big goals in back to back games, Basara has really stepped up and elevated his play come these playoffs. Was a force tonight, the Warriors had all kinds of trouble with Basara.
David Robinson (1 goal) Battled, competed and worked very hard all night. Robinson was in and around the net, battling hard and fighting for every inch out their tonight. Was rewarded with the first goal of the game that seemed to get the Vipers going.
Mike Zalewski (1 goal) Hasnt really been himself yet after coming back from his concusion. I thought Zalewski played well tonight, especially in the first two periods. Scored a highlight goal in the 2nd giving Vernon a 2-0 lead.
Darren Nowick (1 goal & 1 assist) This kid never gives up, comes to the rink ready to go and it showed again tonight. Nowick was very good on the penalty kill making some big plays to chip the puck out on a huge two man advantage kill. Westside had troubles containing the wingers speed and hustle.
The line of Colton Sparrow, Aaron Hadley and Trevor Fitzgerald didnt put up any numbers tonight and wernt one of the Vipers top lines (points wise) but I thought played with alot of energy and battled hard. This lines physical play and in your face style of game is very effective.
Kirby Halcrow (18 saves) For the second straight game Kirby Halcrow made some big saves, and saves when needed giving Vernon a chance to win. This is why the Vipers acquired the veteran goaltender. Halcrow who stood on his head vs the Vipers in last years playoffs is a playoff goaltender and has showed it the past two games. Made some big-key saves in the 1st and 2nd periods. I dont think Halcrow saw Tyler French's shot-goal that broke his shutout in the final minute of play.
Top Players: (Westside)
Tom Kroshus I thought was one of the Warriors better defenceman this evening. Kroshus looked and played well for Westside.
Max French was one of the Warriors better forwards in the 1st and 2nd periods. Was all over the ice and always involved in the play. Battled and competed for most of the night, until the score got out of hand.
Grayson Downing who made his return to the Westside Warriors lineup was another Warrior who stood out and had a very strong game up front. Downing with a few good chances couldnt find the back of the net.
Kevin Boyle (16 saves) I thought Kevin Boyle played very well giving his team a chance to win before leaving the game in the 2nd period after stretching out to make a save off Patrick McGillis. Boyle made 16 saves on 19 Vernon shots giving up three goals.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
What started out as a very entertaining-exciting hockey game turned out to be a pretty dominating 7-1 victory for the Vernon Vipers. I thought Vernon looked good early in the opening period but didnt really get alot of good chances, as Westside didnt carry alot of the play but had atleast two or three good chances. The Warriors played much better in the second half and made for a great 1st period. Both goaltenders kept both of their teams in the game. In the 2nd Kirby Halcrow made some big saves to keep the game scoreless before the Vipers opened the scoring. Vernon is now 3-0 when scoring the games first goal in the playoffs. Once scoring first the Vipers didnt quit and took a 4-0 lead into the 3rd. The Vipers with several turnovers and sloppy plays in their own end excaped without giving up a goal. In the the end specialty teams and goaltending was the difference. The Vipers 3rd goal seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Warriors and Vernon took over the game from here on in. Vernon played very smart hockey and stayed out of the penalty box. The Vipers have now outscored the Warriors 12-3 in the last two games. Vernon has slowly started to get better as the series goes on.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
Westside didnt get off to a great start but seemed to get better as the 1st period went on. I thought the Warriors had the better chances in the opening period and missed on some glorious scoring chances early to start the 2nd. Westside is now 0-6 when giving up the games first goal in these playoffs. Westside just couldnt burry their chances. The Warriors had troubles staying out of the penalty box tonight and through out the series, took some very undisaplined penalties tonight wich cost them the game. I dont know why Darren Yopyk was complaining about the call on Alex Grieve, that was a brutal elbow-check to the head of Kyle Murphy. Tonight was Westside's eighth game in their last twelve nights, are the Warriors breaking down and running out of gas? Or are they being beat by a better hockey team?
Scratches:
Vernon:
Phillip Patenaude
Zach McPhee
Dane Muench (Injured)
Westside:
Brett Mulcahy
TJ Fairall (AP)
Shaun Hochhauson
Izaak Berglund
3 Stars:
1st Star: Kirby Halcrow (18 saves)
2nd Star: Patrick McGillis (2 goals)
3rd Star: Adam Thompson (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=932353&link=bchl
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