Vipers Lose In OT:

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Vipers Lose In OT
 
Saturday, October 13, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Jason Trott’s goal at 2:57 of the second overtime gave the Silverbacks a 3-2 win over the visiting Vipers on Friday.

As the teams played three on three, Shane Hanna’s shot was stopped by Austin Smith, but Trott ripped the rebound past Smith. Hanna had scored the other two goals in the third period as the Silverbacks twice came back from one-goal deficits.

Hanna’s second came with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Goalie Adam Clark was on the bench for a sixth attacker when Ryan Schwalbe won a draw in the Viper zone. During the ensuing melee, Hanna got a rebound past a sprawled Austin Smith..

Hanna’s other goal came on the power play, after referee Brandon Liefke had called a marginal check from behind on Jedd Soleway. In the second period, Liefke had declined to call the same penalty on the Silverbacks when Brendan Persley was rammed into the boards.

The OT winner came after Pierce Eviston had been hauled down in the Silverback zone as he raced for a loose puck that would have given him a clear path to Clark’s goal. No penalty was called.

Faceoff wins by the Silverbacks in key situations proved pivotal. Hanna’s power play marker came 10 seconds after the Soleway penalty. A scramble ensued after a draw in the Viper zone and Hanna pounced on a puck knocked free by Alex Gillies.  

Viper Assistant Coach Dave Robinson said that “when we’re up by a goal with 10 seconds to play, we have to win that draw or at least tie up the Silverback and the puck.”

It was a tough loss for the Vipers, who had the edge in play in the first and third periods, but were stymied time and time again by Adam Clark. Aaron Hadley could have had four or five goals if not for spectacular saves by the big goalie on bang-bang plays at the Salmon Arm crease.

Hadley finally did solve Clark at 10:07 of the third period when he wheeled out from behind the net and fired over Clark’s shoulder from 15 feet. The goal made the score 2-1, a score line that seemed destined to hold up because the Vipers played solid defensive hockey until the faceoff loss at 19:50.

Colton Sparrow had scored the game’s opening goal at 8:50 of the second period, from a scramble in Clark’s crease. 

The two teams now share fifth place in the Interior Division, each with nine points.

Snake Bytes:

* The Vipers played with 10 forwards because Mitch McAllister, Braedan Russell, and Mitch VanTeeling were out with injuries and Logan Mick is ill.
* Vernon's Harlan Orr dressed for the Silverbacks.