Late deuce boosts Vipers
Published: February 01, 2012
An empty-net goal is normally supposed to spell victory for the team that scores it.
Not so for the host Prince George Spruce Kings, who watched in disbelief as they were upended 5-4 by the Vernon Vipers in a B.C. Hockey League overtime thriller before 937 fans Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum.
The Snakes, who fell 7-2 to the Sprucies a night earlier, and were fighting for their playoff lives, forced OT with a two-goal surge in the final minute of regulation, the first coming on a penalty shot rewarded by referee Grant Tyson after forward Colton Sparrow was hauled down by defenceman Ben Woodley on a breakaway. Injured on the play, Sparrow was unable to take the shot, so head coach Jason Williamson called on Colton Cyr (13th goal), who made no mistake converting.
Mike Zalewski (26th and 27th) ensured the Vipers gained at least a point by scoring with 20 seconds to play, and made it two points by slipping the puck five-hole on Prince George netminder Ty Swabb just 22 seconds into the extra frame.
“It was a pretty crazy finish there,” Zalewski told Black Press after the game. “I think everybody just kind of realized the importance of this game today, especially after losing last night, and we just stayed up on the bench.”
Sunday’s OT win wasn’t the first time Vernon has stunned Prince George with late-game heroics. In the first meeting between the two teams on Oct. 1, the Vipers scored three times in a 1:26 span to brush back the Sprucies by the same 5-4 OT scoreline.
“Jason did a real strong job of letting us know we can’t quit and things can happen,” said Zalewski, named first star for his hat-trick performance. “We’ve come back against that team before late in the game so we just tried to stay up. Everybody battled hard on our team, we really dug deep and it was a great win.
“I think it means a lot winning that game as far as us moving forward. I think we go into this next week with some confidence, and get back to work.”
The 21-20-1-2 Vipers trail the 22-17-2-4 Spruce Kings by five points for the final Interior Conference playoff spot, with a game in hand. Vernon begins a five-game home stand at Wesbild Centre Friday night against the Merritt Centennials (26-14-2-5). Trent Dorais’ Alberni Valley Bulldogs are in town Saturday night.
Sunday’s loss was a tough one to swallow for Spruce Kings’ head coach Dave Dupas.
“That was a three-point swing in the last 50 seconds,” he said. “Instead of us being up eight (points) on them, we’re up five on them. That’s three points in the standings in a 50-second span and it’s just, I’d like to say it’s unfortunate, but it really isn’t unfortunate because we did it to ourselves and it’s unacceptable.
“We get caught standing around and they get a breakaway for a penalty shot, which should never ever happen, and after that we had a chance to get the puck out a couple of times. We tried to flip it out, we didn’t get it out.”
Goals by Sparrow (10th, powerplay) and Zalewski (25th), and the Spruce Kings’ Zack Rassell (2nd) made it 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes.
Paul De Jersey, with his BCHL-leading 37th goal, fired the first of three unanswered Spruce King snipes in a four-minute span in the third period. Leo Fitzgerald (10th and 11th) had the other two, including the empty-netter at 18:49.
Kirby Halcrow made 20 stops for the win, while Swabb recorded 25 saves for the Sprucies.
Viper rookie Adam Tambellini had an assist and was named third star. The 17-year-old committed to the NCAA Division 1 North Dakota Fighting Sioux Tuesday morning.
“He’s a pretty talented kid going to a high-end school,” said Williamson. “He’s got a great career ahead of him. He comes to play every night and he just wants to get better, he wants to be a pro.”
Saturday night, Prince George’s Jujhar Khaira pocketed a pair of goals and second star, De Jersey supplied 1+2 and Gerry Fitzgerald had a goal and an assist.
Tied 1-1 after the first period, the Spruce Kings poured on the offence with four unanswered goals in the second period.
“Three goals on about four shifts, it just kind of snowballed on us,” said Williamson.
Captain Pat McGillis, scoring his eighth goal on a first-period powerplay, and linemate Ben Gamache (6th), adding a consolation goal late in the third period, handled Vernon’s offence.
SNAKE BITES: Viper forward Brendan Persley missed Sunday’s encounter serving the first of an automatic two-game suspension he earned for incurring a major for a blow to the head on the Spruce Kings’ Trevor Esau Saturday night. With Vernon d-man Max Mowat injured, the Vipers rolled with just 10 forwards and five dee...Vipers’ assistant coach Chris Shaw also missed Sunday’s game to be with girlfriend Kristi Shields for the birth of their daughter, Paisley, who weighed in at six pounds, 12 ounces. Viper grad Bryce Kakoske filled in admirably behind the bench. Joked Williamson: “He was pretty quiet, pretty nervous, but he did well. We might have got him addicted after a comeback like that.”...Williamson said injured forwards John Knisley and Darren Nowick are questionable for weekend action.
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