I was at this afternoon's Royal Bank Cup as Vernon defeated Portage 5-2 at the Edgeworth Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Portage: Kirk Croswell
1st Period: Some good back and forth play coming from both teams early but with no scoring chances as both teams battled back and forth. It took the Vipers almost four minutes to record their first shot on goal. Marcus Basara really used his speed to his advantage looking very good in the opening period, Basara generated a few opportunities early. Portage would get the games first powerplay but the Vipers penalty kill was good killing off the minor. Bryce Kakoske with a nice pass from behind the Terriers goal went through the slot as no Viper player was in front. Vernon slowly started to take over and carried most of the play the entire period. Portage was having all kinds of trouble with the Vipers speed and skill. The Terriers would get into penalty trouble giving Vernon a long two man advantage just past the midway mark and the Vipers capitalized. Moving the puck well, Adam Thompson with a nice pass down low found Vipers captain, David Robinson at the side of the net who slid the puck into the open cage as Kirk Croswell tried to get across the crease but was too late as the Vipers with a 1-0 lead at 11:03 Thompson and Dylan Walchuk collected the helpers. With Vernon still on the powerplay Ryan Renz's point shot somehow beat Croswell at 13:00 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Trevor Fitzgerald and Colton Sparrow picked up the assists. Just a few minutes later John Knisley tried feeding Colton Sparrow on a parcial two on one but Josh Dufresne made a strong defensive play to break up the odd man rush. With 4:27 remaining Mike Zalewski alone in the slot was robbed by the quick glove hand of Kirk Croswell. Just under a minute later Dane Muench setup Dylan Walchuk at 17:15 who beat Croswell giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Muench and Marcus Basara collected the assists. Portage couldnt get into the Vipers zone as Vernon dominated the 1st period. In the final minutes with some good pressure down low, Kyle Murphy was stopped by Croswell at the side of the net. Vernon outplayed Portage and was the better team. The Vipers with a solid twenty minute effort played a solid opening period. The Terriers only shot on goal came in the opening few minutes. Vernon was up 3-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Terriers 14-1.
2nd Period: In nthe opening minute Dylan Walchuk fed Dane Muench on a two on one but Kirk Croswell slid acoss the crease to make a huge pad save. The Terriers got off to a much better start in the middle frame getting four quality chances in the opening few minutes but Kirby Halcrow who only saw one shot the entire 1st period made some good saves early. Portage was playing with a little more grit and was being a little more aggresive on the forecheck. The Vipers were back on their heels a little to start the period getting just two shots on goal in the first five minutes of play. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the period but the Terriers penalty kill was good killing off the minor. Portage carried the better of the play early but the Vipers defence did a great job at keeping the Terriers offence to the outside. Vernon with just four shots in the first half of the period. The Terriers with some good pressure held a Vernon line hemmened in deep in their own zone, with a tired Vipers line who couldnt clear the zone Portage with some good pressure down low created some open ice before getting two good cahcnes but couldnt find the back of the net before the Vipers finally cleared the zone and got a line change. On the next shift just past the midway mark Marcus Basara's shot from the high slot was stopped by Croswell but Dylan Walchuk was on the doorstop putting home the rebound at 13:02 giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead and in full control. Basara with the lone assist. The Terriers looked much better in the 2nd period but the Vipers defence didnt give up alot of quality scoring chances shutting down Portage's offence. In the final minute of play Malcolm Lyles shorthanded carried the puck out from his own end before trying to go through three Terriers, Lyles was caught deep in the Portage zone, allowing the Terriers to come back with an odd man rush wich forced Kirby Halcrow to make two huge saves in the dying seconds. Halcrow made a huge save off the wrap around on the Terriers first scoring opportunity and then made the second save on the rebound keeping the Terriers off the score board. Portage with a much better performance couldnt capitalize on a few good scoring chances. Vernon was up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Terriers outshot the Vipers 8-7.
3rd Period: The Terriers started the 3rd still on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 2nd period. Portage unable to capitalize went back to five on five hockey. The Terriers got the play back in deep and with some good pressure down low Portage was able to carry the play and had the Vipers running around in their own end. Stephane Pattyn with a great chance in front somehow missed a wide open cage before Tanner Waldvogel beat Halcrow on the second chance getting the Terriers on the board at 1:47. Pattyn and Shaquille Merasty with the helpers. Just seconds later Portage would get an early powerplay and get a great chance early after Josh Dufresne's point shot was tipped in front by Tanner Harms but Kirby Halcrow stood tall making a big save. This being the lone scoring opportuity for the Terriers the Vipers would kill off the minor, just as the penalty expired Marcus Basara stepped out of the penalty box going in on a parcial breakaway but Basara couldnt beat Croswell. Just a minute later the Vipers would get called for too many men on the ice giving the Terriers another early man advantage. Vernon's penalty kill was sharp and would kill off the penalty. Just after the penalty kill, Dane Muench and Dylan Walchuk on a two on one but Muench who shot couldnt beat the quick glove of Kirk Croswell. Shortly after some good pressure down low by Portage allowed Tanner Waldvogel to setup Stephane Pattyn who just got his shot to get through Kirby Halcrow at 8:42 getting the Terriers to within two goals. Waldvogel and Tyler Harland with the assists. The Vipers would come right back, David Robinson setup Kyle Murphy on a parcial two on one, Murphy beat Croswell but hit the crossbar on a great chance. Brendan Harms would come back the other way and get a great chance in front but just missed the far corner. Back come Mike Zalewski with speed beat the Portage d-man before going for the wrap around, Zalewski with an empty cage fed John Knisley who was alone in front who hit the open cage after Kirk Croswell fell trying to get across the crease as the Vipers jumped out to a 5-2 lead. Zalewski with the lone assist. The Vipers then did a great job at just getting the puck in deep and killing valuable time off the clock. Portage would get a few shifts deep in the Vernon zone in the final few minutes but unable to really generate any real good scoring chances. The Terriers battled hard and created some good chances but the Vipers 4-0 lead was enough to hang on for the victory. In the end Vernon would defeat Portage 5-2 moving to 2-0 while the Terriers fell to 1-1. Portage outshot Vernon 8-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey played a strong game on the Vipers blueline. Corkey looked very solid.
Adam Thompson (1 assist) Thompson saw alot of minutes this afternoon and also looked very solid for the Vipers defence.
Dylan Walchuk (2 goals & 1 assist) Was very good up front for the Vernon Vipers. Walchuk looked very good with the puck, The Terriers had trouble slowing down and containing Walchuk most of the game.
Aaron Hadley played an aggresive game in and around the scrums and in front of the net. Hadley and Tanner Waldvogel exchanged words as well as a few shots with one another. I thought Hadley did a great job at trying to get under the skin of several different Terriers. Hadley took several wacks and shots after heading off to the Vipers bench.
Marcus Basara (2 assists) Marcus Basara played very well for the Vipers today. Basara really used his speed to his advantage as the Terriers had troubles containing Basara. I thought Basara played very well in the opening period creating some good chances buzzing in and around the Portage zone.
Kyle Murphy was another Vernon player who looked and played very well. Murphy hitting the crossbar in the 3rd played well at both ends of the rink.
Dane Muench (1 assist) Dane Muench played fairly well in todays 5-2 victory. Muench had two, two on ones getting stopped on one of them. Muench played very well positionally and was really skating hard today.
Top Players: (Portage)
Josh Dufresne I thought was on of the Terriers best d-men. Saw alot of ice-time, played very well defensivly.
Tyler Harland (1 assist) Was another Portage defenceman who played well on the backend. Jumped up into te play at times, good quick moving d-man.
Stephane Pattyn (1 goal and 1 assist) Pattyn was named the player of the game for the Terriers and generated some good chances. One of their more offensive players looked good in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
Tanner Waldvogel (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very aggresive, got involved in the after the whistle activities and didnt back down from the rough stuff.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers improve to 2-0 at the RBC Cup after playing a pretty solid road game. Vernon with a solid 20 minute opening period jumped out to a 3-0 lead after outplaying the Terriers. The Vipers speed and skill was just too much for Portage. In the 2nd Portage come out with a little more grit and forced the Vipers a little but give credit to Vernon as their defence did a great job at keeping the Terriers to the outside and didnt give up alot of scoring opportuities. Up 4-0 going into the 3rd did the Vipers sit back or did the Terriers just battle hard and work hard to earn two hard fought goals? I thought the Vipers speed and skill was just too much for the Terriers, I really liked the defensive play by Vernon. Jumping out to a 4-0 lead really made Portage have to battle back and in the end run out of time.
Game Thoughts: (Portage)
The Terriers got off to a rough start falling down 3-0 after being outplayed the entire 1st period. Portage with just a single shot in the 1st couldnt get any offence going. But give the Terriers credit, they battled hard and didnt give up coming out with a much better effort and performance in the 2nd and 3rd periods. I thought Portage played with alot more grit, played a little more aggresive and carried the better of the play at times in both the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Terriers got better as the game went on but going down 4-0 and trying to get through Vernon's defence is just too much to ask. Portage couldnt contain or slow down the speedy Vipers.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Zach McPhee
Patrick McGillis
Portage:
Mitch Wiebe
Rob Paulson
Cody Nelson
Connor Lockhart
Cory More
Players Of The Game:
Vernon: Dylan Walchuk (2 goals and 1 assist)
Portage:
Stephane Pattyn (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/157723/season_id/157706/ss_id/73728/
No comments:
Post a Comment