Smith Backstops Viper Win In Penticton:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Smith Backstops Viper Win In Penticton
 
Friday, November 23, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Behind the solid goaltending of Austin Smith, the Vipers beat the Vees 2-1 in Penticton on Friday.

Smith stopped 26 of 27 Vee shots, including 9 in the third period when the Vees pressed for the equalizer. After the game, Jason Williamson praised Smith’s mental toughness: “Smitty gave up five in Coquitlam but he worked hard in practice this week and stayed positive. He was very sharp tonight, really focused.”

An omen of things to come occurred in the first period when Smith stopped Brad McClure’s breakaway attempt late in the period. An even first period saw the Vipers get the first seven shots on goal, but the Vees bounced back to tie the shots total at 10-10. Each team had a half dozen scoring chances. 

Mike Roberts got the best chance early for the Vipers, after good work by Liam Board and Brendan Persley. Chad Katunar made the first of several good saves from plays around his net. The Vees had two power plays, but were totally stymied on the first one and were held to just one scoring chance on the second.

Only two goals were recorded in the second period but there were lots of chances – 8 by Penticton, 7 by Vernon. Aaron Hadley broke the ice at 7:59. Colton Sparrow banked the puck out of his zone and Hadley raced after it. Chad Katunar came out to play the puck in his zone but realized too late that Hadley was going to win the race.  Hadley deposited the puck in the net from a sharp angle just ahead of Katunar’s desperate lunge.

With six seconds remaining in the second period, Louie Nanne’s speed gave him a half step on Marc Hetnik and Nanne was able to get the puck over Austin Smith’s right shoulder as Smith slid to his right to head Nanne off at the pass. 

Unfazed by surrendering the late second period, the Vipers came out strong in the third. Their aggressive play resulted in a Ryan Renz goal at 4:07. Newly acquired Liam Board, who flew in from Prince George earlier in the day, worked on an effective line with Brendan Persley and Mike Roberts. The trio created havoc in the Vee zone and the puck came to Renz in the high slot. His strong wrister found the top corner.

Despite committed defensive work by the Vipers, an increasingly desperate Vees squad made things interesting late in the period when they created their four scoring chances. Austin Smith showed his trademark coolness under fire to help preserve the first Viper win in Penticton since October 22, 2010.