Ineffective Special Teams Seal Vipers’ Fate:

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Ineffective Special Teams Seal Vipers’ Fate
 
Saturday, October 6, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

In an evenly played game in Penticton on Friday, the Vipers lost 4-2 to the Vees, largely because the Vipers couldn't match Penticton's special teams.

Michael Rebry, who scored an overtime winner in the Vipers’ first game of the season, sparked his team with a power play goal and a back breaking short handed effort. His first goal came late in the first period after Adam Tambellini had given the Vipers a 1-0 lead.

Rebry’s second goal came against the run of play in the third period. The Vipers controlled play for much of the last 20 minutes but sloppy play by the Viper power play point men allowed the Vees to clear the zone. Rebry hounded a Viper D-man down the ice and eventually won a puck battle that allowed him to break in on Austin Smith.

Turnovers created the two first period scores. First, Bryce Eviston made a good play along the boards at centre ice and the puck squirted free to Tambellini whose forehand-to-backhand move beat Chad Katunar at 15:20.

Ryan Renz gave the momentum back to the Vees when he tried to stickhandle out of his zone, was dispossessed, and took a high sticking penalty. At 19:18, Rebry’s second whack at a loose puck went under Smith.

Early in the second, after a giveaway in the Viper zone, Sam Mellor found Wade Murphy with a cross ice pass and Murphy’s wicked wrist shot beat Smith up high.

That goal was part of a second period in which the Vees continually looked dangerous while out shooting the Vipers 13-9. They might have added to their lead if not for Austin Smith's quick glove hand.

Respite Rebry’s short handed goal, the Viper power play was better in the third period as they generated several excellent scoring chances with the man advantage. Third star Katunar was at his best in the final frame, robbing Pierce Eviston and Marc Hetnik, among others.

Still, Vernon got back in the game when Aaron Hadley’s hustle took him to the net at 11:42. He knocked in a loose puck after Katunar failed to hold Pierce Eviston’s rising shot.

The Vipers poured on the pressure and seemed ready to tie the game but a marginal slashing penalty issued to Hadley at 18:05 led to Wade Murphy’s power play marker at 18:20.

In the final analysis, the Vipers lost because of poor puck handling by their point men on the power play and because of bad penalties at critical times. They outskated, out hit, and outchanced the Vees, but did not take advantage of the opportunities created by their own hard work.

Also, at times the Vipers were guilty of making too many moves in the offensive zone, thus negating promising forays.