I was at tonight's Fred Page Cup-BCHL Finals as Vernon defeated Powell River 4-3 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead in front of 2,199 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Powell River: Michael Garteig
1st Period: Powell River would get the games first powerplay of the night just 1:39 into the opening period. The Vipers penalty kill did a good job early but couldnt hold off the #2 ranked powerplay as Cohen Adair beat Kirby Halcrow from the slot at 2:49 giving the Kings an early 1-0 lead. Chad Niddery and Jon Jutzi would collect the helpers. Powell River is 7-3 in these playoffs when scoring first, while Vernon is 0-4 in the playoffs when giving up the games first goal. This was the Kings first lead of the series. The Vipers couldnt get control of the puck early as the Kings slowly started to carry the better of the play. Vernon just didnt look very sharp and wernt skating. It took the Vipers almost five minutes to record their first shot on goal. Steven Schmidt with a hard shot from the circle handcuffed Kirby Halcrow as Schmidt and another Powell River went hard to the net, Schmidt couldnt beat Halcrow on the rebound on a good scoring chance. Just before the midway mark the Kings who were the better team were outshooting Vernon 6-1. Just past the midway mark Vernon would get their first powerplay of the night. Moving the puck well, the Kings were unable to clear the zone as Vernon had Powell River pinned in their own end the entire man advantage. With just four seconds remaining on the powerplay, Darren Nowick fed Mike Zalewski who beat Michael Garteig at 14:53 tying the game 1-1. Nowick and John Knisley with the assists. Just ninety seconds later Malcolm Lyles with an end to end rush went through a few Powell River players before sending the puck out front to Marcus Basara who beat Garteig at 15:43 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead. Lyles with the lone assist. The Vipers were now leading in shots 7-6 at this point. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life and get the crowd into the game. Just seconds later Powell River would get their second powerplay of the night, but this time the Vipers penalty kill was very sharp. Mike Zalewski and Darren Nowick would get a shorthanded two on one, Zalewski tried to feed a wide open Nowick in front but Chris Williams with a great diving defensive play, broke up the Vipers odd man rush as Vernon would kill off the minor. Late in the period Michael Garteig made a tough save on Ryan Renz's point shot. The Kings were the better team in the first half, but the Vipers come back with two quick back to back goals and were the better team in the second half of the 1st. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Powell River outshot Vernon 10-7.
2nd Period: For the second straight period the Kings got off to a good start and were the better team with some good early pressure. Chris Williams with a great chance just a few minutes into the middle frame beat Halcrow between his arm and blocker as the puck come out the other side but went wide of the goal. Vernon seemed to be back on their heels with the Kings pressing. Kirby Halcrow couldnt handle a Kings dump in shot as two Powell River players jumped on the rebound but couldnt beat Halcrow low after making a huge pad save as the Kings with another good scoring chance. On the next play Malcolm Lyles beat Michael Garteig from the slot at 4:50 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Darren Nowick with the lone assist. This was a goal Michael Garteig would like to have back. Kent Lewis decided to pull Garteig who gave up three goals on just eight shots. Backup tender Sean Maguire would finish the game. Off the faceoff the Kings started to lay the body with some huge hits. As the period went on tempers really started to heat up with some good battles in and along the boards. Trevor Fitzgerald would get a great chance to put the Vipers up by three goals but Fitzgerald would fire his shot just over the Kings net on a great scoring play from the slot. Several scrums would form after the whistle with pushing and shoving from both teams, as both teams were giving out a few shots with words being exchanged. Just past the midway mark Vernon would get its second powerplay of the night after a huge scrum in front of Kirby Halcrow. Some pushing and shoving going on with several shots at each other as tempers really heated up. Patrick McGillis on the man advantage fed a streaking Dylan Walchuk who got inbehind the Kings defence but Michael Garteig made a big save in close. The Vipers would get caught on the forecheck as back come the Kings on the oddman rush, Steven Schmidt untouched went through several Viper players before dishing off to Chris Williams who beat Kirby Halcrow shorthanded at 13:50 getting the Kings to within a goal. Schmidt with the only assist. This goal gave Powell River life and a big change in momentum as the Kings would kill off the remainder of the penalty before slowly taking over the edge in play for the remainder of the period. Brendan Forbes with a great chance was stopped by Halcrow. Halcrow didnt have his sharpest game as the veteran goaltender seemed to be fighting the puck at times, as well as giving up several rebounds as the puck was bouncing off him all night. Brendan Forbes jumped on his own rebound and then was stopped by Halcrow again late in the 2nd period. The Vipers who had troubles gaining any control or sustained pressure were getting beat to the puck and losing the battles most of the period. Vernon with several turnovers inside the neutral zone had troubles getting the play deep in the Powell River zone. The Kings who looked very strong battled hard. The Vipers with just a single shot on goal in the final six or so minutes of the period. In the final minute Matt Garbowsky with a great chance from the slot just ripped his shot high and over the top corner. The Kings with all kinds of pressure come close on several occasions to tying the game. Powell River was the better team outplaying Vernon most of the period. The Vipers were up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. Powell River outshot Vernon 17-6.
3rd Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, getting the puck in deep as well as getting a few good shots towards Sean Maguire. Two or three good chances early but all missed the net. Bryce Kakoske with a great chance to give Vernon a two goal lead somehow missed on a wide open cage. I dont think Kakoske thought he had the open net as Maguire was out of position just as Kakoske was going to shoot. On the same play the Vipers would keep the puck in deep, getting a shot off from the point where Kakoske was in front to get a tip on the point shot but Sean Maguire made a big save. Two real good scoring chances by the Vipers early in the 3rd. Vernon would get an early powerplay but it wouldnt last long as the Vipers would take a penalty while on the man advantage. With the Kings on the powerplay Powell River moved the puck around setting up Chad Niddery in front who beat Halcrow at 5:50 on the Kings first shot of the period tying the game 3-3. Andrew Pettitt and Jon Jutzi collected the assists. Vernon's two goal lead was no gone as the Kings battled back to tie the game. From here on in it was all Powell River as the Kings really pressed with some good pressure deep in the Vipers zone. Again Powell River was the more aggresive team winning the races and the battles along the boards keeping the play alive in the Vernon zone. But give Vernon's defence credit, even though the Kings were outplaying the Vipers the Vernon defence wasnt giving the Kings any real good quality scoring chances. The Vipers who again were back on their heels did a good job at limiting Powell River's chances. With just six and ahalf minutes remaining John Knisley with the puck deep in the Kings zone would shoot the puck towards the goal from the corner boards, the puck would hit and go off Sean Maguires back and into the net at 13:24 giving the Vipers a 4-3 lead. Knisley's goal was unassisted. This was a heartbreaker for the Kings after having all kinds of pressure deep in the Vernon zone but unable to generate any real scoring chances. Kent Lewis would call a timeout with 1:34 remaining and then get Maguire to the bench for the extra attacker. The Kings would get the play in deep off an icing call, win the draw and get two shots from the point that both were stopped by Kirby Halcrow. In the final minute the Vipers would clear the zone as the puck would slowly get close towards the open cage but hit the post on a close call. The Kings would get the puck back in deep and get a shot and rebound in front before both teams formed a huge pile of players in front of Kirby Halcrow but somehow the puck would stay out as the Kings would get three good chances in the final minute and a half but in the end the Vipers would ice the puck with just three seconds remainig and hang on for the 4-3 victory taking a comanding 3-0 series lead. Vernon outshot Powell River 7-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Malcolm Lyles (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a very solid game at both ends of the rink tonight. Lyles with two nice rushes up ice, setup a highlight reel goal to give Vernon a 2-1 lead. Lyles did cough the puck up twice but looked very good with and without the puck all game.
David Robinson took several elbows-check to the head shots from the Kings but didnt back down, playing a strong game on the Vipers front line. The Viper captain battled hard and was very good in and along the boards as well as in front of the net.
I thought the line of Zach McPhee, Aaron Hadley and Trevor Fitzgerald played well this evening. McPhee really stepped up the physical play in the 2nd period. I thought this line with a little banging and crashing was effective and did their job.
John Knisley (1 goal & 1 assist) Played well but really stepped up his game in the 3rd period. Knisley really turned up the jets in the final frame and was very hard to stop. Scored the game winner on a shot from the far corner that went in and off Sean Maguires back and into the back of the net. A heartbreaker for the Kings but Knisley and the Vipers will take it.
Darren Nowick (2 assists) Played well up front for Vernon. Nowick battled and made a few smart heads up plays.
Top Players: (Powell River)
Steven Schmidt (1 assist) Played a hard-fought game for the Kings. Schmidt with a few good chances looked good for Powell River. Schmidt went untouched going through several Vernon players before setting up Chris Williams shorthanded goal.
Chris Williams (1 goal) I thought was the Kings best player this evening. Williams with a few good scoring plays, scored a real nice shorthanded goal to get the Kings within a goal. Made a very nice diving defensive play late in the 1st to break up a Vipers shorthanded two on one.
Jon Jutzi (2 assists) I thought played very well on the Kings defence. Jumped up into the play at times looking very confident.
Justin Dasilva was Powell Rivers best d-man this eveing. Logged alot of minutes playing very well.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Almost blowing a two goal lead the Vipers hung on for a huge 4-3 win taking a comanding 3-0 series lead. Vernon has now won seven straight. Im shocked and cant believe the Vipers have a 3-0 series lead, this team still amazes me on how far and how well they are playing and doing. I think the Vipers got the bounces as well as had luck on their side. Vernon scored on their chances but I dont think looked very sharp at times and had troubles getting their legs moving. Vernon who lost most of the races and battles to and for the puck were back on their heels most of the night, but give the Vipers credit. They limited the Kings scoring chances and didnt really givem Powell River alot of good scoring opportunities in the 3rd. Vernon who was in there own end most of the night capitalized on some Kings goaltending that didnt come up with the big save when needed. The Vipers now have a chance to win their league leading 12th Fred Page Cup with a win in Game 4 tomorrow night.
Game Thoughts: (Powell River)
Give the Kings full credit, they were down 3-1 but battled back and made for one heck of a finish. I watched Game 2 over the internet and Powell River has now outplayed Vernon and carried the better of the play in the last two games but has zero wins to show for it. Powell River with alot of sustained pressure couldnt generate any real good scoring chances in the 3rd when down by a goal. The Kings only real good scoring chance was Nidderys tying goal early to start the 3rd. Powell River who was the better team tonight, looked strong but didnt get any of the bounces-breaks. For the first time this series tempers really got heated up as emotions from both teams slowly started to show in the 2nd and 3rd periods. I dont think any of the three goaltenders will tell you that played all that well. The Kings didnt get the big save from either Michael Garteig or Sean Maguire and Kirby Halcrow was fighting the puck tonight as well as having trouble controlling his rebounds. I think this was a game where Powell River figures they could have pulled one out but come up just short in a must win situation. Powell River who come back down 3-1 to knock off the Victoria Grizzlies now have a huge mountain to climb down 3-0 to the Vipers. Does Kent Lewis go back with Michael Garteig or give Sean Maguire his first start of the playoffs?
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Dane Muench
Colton Sparrow
Powell River:
Braden Pears
Teegan Waugh
Justin Bardarson
3 Stars:
1st Star: Malcolm Lyles (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Chad Niddery (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: John Knisley (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=939550&link=bchl
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