For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my
thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all
have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my
thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap
on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 2-1 in double overtime in front of 1,819 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Salmon Arm: Adam Clark
1st Period: Just 2:44 into the contest the Silverbacks would lose Vernon product Alex Gillies after being tossed from the game after checking Michael Statchuk from behind. The Vipers would get an early five minute powerplay. Vernon would struggle with the man advantage as the Vipers couldnt setup or get any solid puck posession as the Silverbacks penalty kill looked very good early. It took the Vipers two and a half minutes to record their first of two back to back shots on two real soft shots from in close before finally working the puck around Pearce Eviston found Adam Tambellini at the circle who ripped a hard shot past Adam Clark giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 6:00 Eviston & Brett Corkey collected the helpers. Vernon would struggle the remainder of the five minute major come up with just five shots scoring once as Salmon Arm would kill off the remainder of the powerplay. A fairly even played opening period with very little scoring chances through out the period. Both teams looked a little scrambly at times. Just before the halfway mark the Vipers were outshooting the Backs 6-2 but within a minute and a half Salmon Arm would get five quick shots to jump ahead 7-6 in that short span the Vipers got a little lucky after a weird bounce off the end boards the puck come right out front where Austin Smith had to be alert come up with a big pad save from in close on a scramble in front. Just past the midway mark the Silverbacks would get their first powerplay of the night. Moving the puck around with some good pressure Salmon Arm only recorded one shot on goal with no real scoring opportunity as Vernon would kill off the minor. With five and a half minutes to go Jeff Kennedy with a quick shot from the slot forced Austin Smith to make a quick toe save keeping the game 1-0. Both teams were fairly evenly matched. The Vipers did control the play a little in the final three or four minutes but no real pressure or scoring opportunities. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 10-8.
2nd Period: The Backs come out hard to start the middle frame and carried the play early before the Vipers would get an early powerplay. For the second straight powerplay Vernon struggled not recording a single shot with the man advantage. The Silverbacks come up with atleast two or three big shot blocks killing off the man advantage. Shortly after Jeff Kennedy with a great shot from the slot was stopped by Smith who made a big pad save off Kennedy from in close. On the same play back come the Vipers on an odd man rush who fed Adam Tambellini who went in for the parcial breakaway but Adam Clark challenged Tambellini making the big save from in close. The Backs quicly moved the puck up ice setting up Jeff Kennedy on the odd man rush but Bryce Eviston come up with a huge defensive play tying up Kennedy who would have had an open cage for the game tying goal. Just minutes later former Vipers defenceman Bennett Hambrook with a quick shot from the point hit someone or something on its way towards the goal just missed the goal on a close call. Logan Mick then with a great chance at the side of the goal couldnt beat Clark in front. The play really started to open up around the midway mark as both teams were hustling going back and forth with chances at both ends. Just past the midway mark Vernon couldnt clear the zone, the Backs kept the play alive after Shane Hanna setup Brandon Mistal who beat Smith tying the game 1-1 at 9:00 Hanna with the lone assist. Just three minutes later Salmon Arm would get their second shot with the powerplay but it was the Vipers who played well with the penalty kill killing off the minor. During the powerplay the Vipers would lose Kevin Guiltinan while the Backs would lose Troy Petrick as both players were given ten minute misconducts. The Silverbacks slowly started to get going and once again carried the slight edge in play, Salmon Arm with a great job at making those quick breakouts out of their own end really moved the puck well up ice. With three minutes remaining Jeff Kennedy on an odd man rush couldnt beat Austin Smith who made a nice save. Vernon would get a late powerplay after Ryan Simpson would get the two minute minor as well as a ten minute misconduct. The Vipers powerplay looked a little better but again Vernon couldnt capitalize before the Vipers would take a penalty as both teams would play a little four on four to finish the period. The Silverbacks were the better of the two teams tying the game 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Both teams with some good chances opened up the scoring chances in the second period. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 14-11.
3rd Period: Just five minutes into the final frame Logan Mick with a great chance had Adam Clark down and out with a scramble in front of Clark the puck come out to the side of the crease where a wide open Mick couldnt get his backhand up and over a diving Clark who made a huge save with his goalstick to keep this game tied. On the next shift Salmon Arm would get an early powerplay but no real chances as Vernon would kill off the penalty. The Vipers really stepped up their game and come to play in the third getting some glorious chances early and often. Vernon carrying the better of the play for most of the period started skating and creating some good chances. Micth Van-Teeling on a two on one was stoned by Adam Clark. The Vipers on another odd man rush setup Michael Roberts at the side of the net who couldnt connect on the pass. Shortly after Clark made a big pad save from in close kicking out the rebound to a wide open Roberts who was stopped on the rebound. Clark who has played very well against Vernon this year played very well tonight. The Silverbacks with just one real good chance came in the first half of the period from in close but Austin Smith made the pad save. Vernon who showed alot of hustle and played hard looked very hungry for the win but couldnt burry their chances. Pearce Eviston late with a wrap around couldnt beat Clark who come across to make the save. The Vipers with the better of the play and come up with the better of the scoring chances were heading to overtime after a 1-1 tie. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 11-7.
Overtime: Both teams looked to be waiting for the other team to make the first mistake as no real scoring opportunity came around for either team, In the dying seconds Mitch Van-Teeling & Aaron Hadley on a two on one but Hadley missed the goal. It was still tied 1-1 after 65 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 4-2.
Double Overtime: The Backs with the first good scoring threat collected a two on one. Ryan Schwalbe and Troy Petrick went in on the odd man rush, Schwalbe kept and fired but Ryan Renz just got a peice of the puck to send it into the netting behind the goal. Back come the Vipers with an odd man rush of their own, Mitch Van-Teeling got in close put a move in close but was robbed by Clark who made a huge pad save keeping this game tied. The play really opened up as both teams went back and forth with some good chances in the second overtime. Harlan Orr then coughed up the puck in his own end the Vipers on the turnover forced a scramble in front but couldnt get a shot off with two open players in the slot as the Vipers had the Backs on the ropes. It looked like this game was going to end in a tie as both goaltenders played very well before Shane Hanna tried going around his d-man got off a shot, with a mad scramble in front and the puck loose Carter Lukenda collected the rebound in front and put the backhand into the open cage giving the Backs a huge 2-1 OT win as the Salmon Arm bench erupted snapping a four game losing streak. Lukendas goal was unassisted.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Bryce Eviston played one of his better games of the young season. I thought Eviston was very steady tonight and played very well defensively. Made a huge defensive play to tie up Jeff Kennedy at the side of the net on a sure looking goal to keep the game tied 1-1.
TJ Dumonceaux played with alot of hustle and energy. I thought other then taking two penalties hustled and worked hard all night.
Michael Roberts played one of his better games of the season tonight. Roberts who has slowly started to get better as the season goes along had atleast two good scoring chances tonight.
Logan Mick was another player who battled and competed hard tonight. Also come up with two real good scoring opportunities.
Mitch Van-Teeling played his best game as a Viper and was the best Viper tonight by far. Van-Teeling really stepped up his play tonight, was really skating, playing with alot of jump and played well at both ends of the rink. Had a handfull of scoring chances tonight. Was really going hard to the net.
Austin Smith (31 saves) Austin Smith has kept the Vipers in alot of games this year and tonight he played very well making some big saves. Played his position very well and didnt give up alot of rebounds.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Back to back overtime losses and the Vipers are now on a six game losing streak. With just one win in their last ten games Vernon is struggling and cant seem to win. Looking at the standings tonight was a must win! Still out of a playoff spot the Vipers need to start beating teams below them in the standings. If you cant beat the teams below you in the standings how are you going to beat the top teams? I didnt think either team looked all that great in the 1st and the Vipers who had some good chances in the second had some troubles in their own end. I thought the Vipers really come to play and stepped up their play in the third, playing their best hockey of the night. Vernon with some glorious chances in the third and overtime couldnt capitalize. Just like last season this team is very uncosistant and cant seem to play a full sixty minutes. Once again the powerplay has killed the Vipers all season. With an early five minute powerplay and then an early powerplay to start the 2nd period this is your chance to put away Salmon Arm. This team has troubles scoring goals and it showed again tonight. A very tough loss for sure.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Brandon Mistal (1 goal) I didnt really notice Mistal at all until he scored the game tying goal. From that point on I thought he played well and looked good for the remainder of the game.
Jeff Kennedy was by far the Silverbacks best forward tonight. Kennedy with lots of several good scoring chances couldnt buy a goal. Was really skating hard, played well at both ends of the ice and showed alot of hustle.
Sean Flanagan played a solid game on the Backs blueline.
Brayden Sherbinin also played very well on the Salmon Arm backend.
Bryden Marsh impressed me tonight, played physical and seemed to worked hard-battle all night.
Ryan Schwalbe also played a strong game up front for Salmon Arm. A good skater who really moved the puck well, created a few chances for the Backs.
Adam Clark now 3-0 vs Vernon this season has played very well making some big saves. Especially in the 3rd and overtime. Clark a bigger goaltender covers alot of net and is very hard to beat from any angle. Made atleast three game saving saves in the 3rd and OT to give his team a chance to win.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Just like the Vipers I didnt think the Silverbacks looked or played all that great in the opening period. Both teams looked a little scrambly in the first period before settling down as the game went on. I thought Salmon Arm had the slight edge in play in the second period but was outplayed in the third period. Tempers heated up through out the game as both teams got involved in some pushing and shoving after the whistle. I thought the Backs really move the puck well and have a nice breakout coming out of their own end. Salmon Arm also played very well shorthanded, give credit to the kids who come up with some huge blocked shots. Giving up just one goal on the five minute major was huge, this kept them in the game and kept the close. If Vernon had a strong powerplay, this game could have been over early. With the win the Backs snapped their four game losing streak and improve to 3-1 vs Vernon this year. Salmon Arm & Vernon are now both tied for last place in the Interior Division.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Colton Sparrow (Injured)
Brendan Persley (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Dylan Bowen
Josh Bowes
Riley Hunt (Injured)
Brock Balson
Anthony Croston
Vipers energy player of the game:
Mitch McAllister
3 Stars:
1st Star: Carter Lukenda (Overtime winner)
2nd Star: Adam Clark (37 saves)
3rd Star: Austin Smith (31 saves)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102879&link=bchl
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