Cyr Pots OT Winner:

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Cyr Pots OT Winner

Friday, March 9, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

It definitely was not a classic game, but late third period heroics and a Colton Cyr overtime winner gave the Vipers a dramatic 4-3 decision over Salmon Arm on Friday.

In the second last game of the season for both teams, the Vipers and Silverbacks took turns looking disinterested. In the first period, Salmon Arm goalie Kurt Williams was left to his own devices by his teammates who were unable to stop the Vipers from freewheeling for most of the period.

The Vipers play well at home, especially early in games and they dominated the opening 20 minutes, creating 11 scoring chances. Fortunately for the visitors, Williams was very sharp, even heroic at times, as he robbed Ben Gamache and Darren Nowick, among others. Also, the Vipers missed the net at least 10 times when they had Williams at their mercy.

They finally did get a goal with 20 seconds remaining in the period. On one of his several dynamic rushes, Brett Corkey lugged the puck from his own end and got a shot on net. Brendan Persley then snapped the rebound on goal and a scramble ensued in front of Williams. On the third chance, Adam Tambellini swooped in flick the puck over a frantic Williams.

Not much happened in the second period, not even on a Salmon Arm two-man advantage, but the dam broke loose in the third.

Carrying over their power play from the second period, the ‘Backs tied the game on a pretty three-way passing play that was capped off by Myles McCauley going hard to the net at 1:08. Then they forged ahead on another power play marker exactly five minutes later. This time, Travis Stephens placed a backhand past Danny Todosychuk from a tight angle.

The Stephens goal seemed to wake up the Vipers, who started to press the issue. A hustling play by Aaron Hadley resulted in a Marc Hetnik goal at 9:42. Hetnik’s whistling wrister from the high slot was the first tally by a Viper defenceman since January 21.

After nine minutes of defensive stalemate, Mike Zalewski looked he had potted the winning goal at 18:42 after a really strong shift by the Zalewski/Nowick/Knisley line.

The Vipers then attempted to go into clampdown mode, harassing the ‘Backs in the Salmon Arm zone. However, John Knisley overdid it when he took an ill-advised high sticking penalty 150 feet from his net at 19:06. Colin O’Hara lifted his goalie for a 6thattacker and the move paid off when Myles McCauley ripped a shot through traffic with 21 seconds remaining in regulation.

Before overtime began, the Silverbacks seemed energized and the Vipers looked disconsolate, but surprisingly the Vipers took control. Despite Viper pressure, however, the Silverbacks allowed only two shots to get to their net.

At 3:35 of the first overtime session, shots by Marc Hetnik and Ben Gamache were blocked, but Colton Cyr jumped on a loose puck and roofed it from 10 feet.

The Vipers have now won six of eight overtime games, with their only two OT losses coming at the hands of the Silverbacks.

The two teams will conclude their season Saturday evening in Salmon Arm.