Special Teams Key Warrior Victory:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Special teams key Warrior victory

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-03-12

A late power play goal and an empty netter gave the Westside Warriors a 4-2 win over the Vipers on Friday, but Westside’s penalty killing set the stage for the win.

Quinn Gould’s power play marker at 17:03 of the third period proved decisive in the contest. On the play, Kyle Singleton’s ill-advised cross pass was knocked out of the air by Kyle Murphy, but the puck bounced fortuitously to the unmarked Gould at the side of Kirby Halcrow’s net.

The Warriors finished the night with one power play in six tries, but the real story was the Vipers’ inability to cash in two opportunities while Westside was two men short. They had a full two minutes of 5 on 3 in the first period after Westside’s coach, Darren Yopyk, blew a gasket when referee Grant Tyson issued a hooking penalty to Tyler Krause at 8:38.

Vernon had another minute and 22 seconds of 5 on 3 in the second period. In both cases, Westside blocked shorts and kept Vernon to the outside. When Kevin Boyle did allow rebounds of shots that got through the traffic, Warrior defenders tied up sticks down low.

A killing blow came at 1:24 of the second when Alex Grieve scored a short handed goal to give his team a 2-0 lead. He sneaked behind Viper defenders at centre ice, knocked down Kyle Singleton’s high pass, and beat Kirby Halcrow through the five hole after sweeping from left to right in front of the net.

The Vipers, whose power play has operated at nearly 25 percent versus the Warriors this year, were unable to break through on five attempts.

Certainly, the Warriors’ physical, often reckless, play left them vulnerable. Two Warriors were banished from the game. Shawn Hochhausen drew a five minute major for a blow to the head when he felled Kyle Murphy near the end of the first period.

In the second, Peter MacIntosh was sent to the showers for his hit from behind on Colton Sparrow at 5:35. Trevor Fitzgerald jumped in to defend his line mate and received a double minor. When he returned from the sin bin, he scored a goal that was credited to Colton Sparrow.

Although Sparrow was on the ice, it was Fitzgerald who roared down the right wing and fired a low shot into the crease. Matthew Maher, who was tracking Aaron Hadley right to the net, had the puck deflect off his skate past Kevin Boyle.

Fitzgerald struck again at 16:06. Following a turnover at centre ice, Colton Sparrow spotted Fitzgerald free on the right wing. Fitzgerald took three strides over the blue line and rifled a shot over Boyle’s right shoulder to knot the score at 2-2.

By now, the Vipers were in full flight and the Warriors were over matched. Earlier, however, the Vipers were unable to match the level of intensity displayed by the Warriors, who were frenetic and undisciplined, yet very effective. It took the two game misconducts to get Coach Yopyk to calm his troops somewhat, but they lost their edge in doing so.

It was a difficult game for referee Grant Tyson to manage, and he was forced to issue 26 penalties. In the end, the Vipers demonstrated their superior skill, except for the key skill of scoring when they created chances.

Meanwhile, the Warriors capitalized on their opportunities, despite their propensity for taking undisciplined penalties.

If the Vipers had been able to click on the power play, this game would have been over in the first period.

In the past two games, however, the Westside Warriors look like the better playoff squad, bending but not breaking. Again, they were out shot by a wide margin, 41-23.

Shot totals in the three games favour the Vipers 120 to 67, but the Warriors lead the series two games to one, with the next game Saturday night in Westside.

A similar scenario has developed in the Penticton/Salmon Arm series. Salmon Arm has won all three games despite being out shot 135-65.