Tambellini Decides OT Contest:

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Tambellini Decides OT Contest
 
Saturday, November 10, 2012 - Submitted by don Klepp

Adam Tambellini converted his fifth overtime scoring chance with six seconds remaining in the second overtime session to lift the Vipers to a 3-2 win over the visiting Surrey Eagles on Saturday.

Earlier in the two OT sessions, the slick 17-year-old had either shot the puck over the net or had been stymied by Surrey backup Glenn Ferguson.

With about 20 seconds remaining in the game, Tambellini tried to come to the bench but Coach Jason Williamson sent the reluctant hero back out. Playing with Pearce Eviston and Brett Corkey, Tambellini took a point blank shot that was stopped by Ferguson, but Tambellini gathered the puck again and shot it through Ferguson’s pads.

Tambellini had also created the opening goal of the game, at 9:08 of the first period. He came out of the right corner, slipped by a check and wheeled out front. He couldn’t jam the puck past Ferguson, but Pearce Eviston finished the play.  

Following some sloppy play by the Viper power play point men, Surrey’s Eric Chevrier caused a turnover that was converted by Mason Blacklock, who raced down the left wing and beat Danny Todosychuk to the glove side.

Again, the Vipers took the lead, at 4:30 of the second period. Marc Hetnik registered his first goal of the season when his wrist shot found its way through traffic.

But again the Eagles equalized, on a late second-period power play, just as they had done when they defeated the Vipers in Surrey on October 19. They had a five-on-three advantage for 68 seconds but were unable to beat Todosychuk. However, at the tail end of the second penalty Brett Mulcahy’s shot deflected off Michael Statchuk’s shin pad.

Todosychuk was stellar for the Vipers, stopping 21 of 22 shots in the second period and 46 of 48 overall.

With 3:03 remaining in the third, a marginal tripping call by referee Mike Langin sent Marc Hetnik to the sin bin. However, the Viper defenders denied the Eagles a scoring chance during the two-minute penalty.

Again, in the overtime the Eagles had a chance to notch the winning goal when Pearce Eviston was judged to have hauled down Mason Blacklock at 2:37 of the second OT.  During the ensuing penalty shot, Todosychuk played his angles perfectly, forcing Blacklock to shoot wide.

In the two overtime periods, the Vipers had 10 scoring chances while the Eagles managed three.
Still, it seemed that the teams were headed for a draw until Tambellini squeezed one through Ferguson.