Briggs Steals A Game In Vernon:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Briggs Steals A Game In Vernon
 
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Submitted by Don Klepp

In an exciting, wide open game, Tyler Briggs stopped 45 of 48 shots for a Warrior 5-3 victory in Vernon on Saturday.

The 1442 fans in attendance were treated to plenty of scoring chances in the contest, 23 by Vernon and 18 by West Kelowna. The run-and-gun approach suited the high scoring Warriors better than the goal-challenged Vipers, who might have been better served by playing the tight defensive style that earned them a 2-2 tie in Merritt on Tuesday.

Although out shot 15-10 in the first period, the Warriors notched the only goal, a top corner screamer off the rush by Daniel Gayle at 19:33. The score had been kept in check by Tyler Briggs's solid goaltending and two big saves by Austin Smith at the other end.

Smith blocked Marcus Basara's quick shot after Basara had knifed through the Viper defence. He also smothered a rebound from Max French's strong net drive.

The Vipers dominated the second period and twice drew even on power play goals by Mason Blacklock and Marc Hetnik. Blacklock deflected a Jason Bird point shot past Briggs at 5:21 and Hetnik vacated his post at the blue line to corral a loose puck behind the Warrior net and beat Briggs with a wrap around at 16:33.

Between the two Viper goals, Josh Monk powered a shot past Austin Smith with four seconds remaining in a Warrior man advantage. David Pope drew his second of three assists on the play.

Despite being outshot 15-6 in the third period, the Warriors scored three times. At 5:41, Brennan Clark's conversion of a loose puck during a broken play gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. That goal was followed by Max French's power play rocket from the left faceoff circle at 10:26.

French's goal was a real back breaker for the Vipers, who had flubbed an opportunity to make the score 3-3 after Tyler Briggs was assessed four minutes for spearing.

But the Vipers went down with guns blazing. They continued to put heat on Briggs and the short staffed Warrior crew of 16 skaters.  That pressure paid off with a Logan Mick conversion of a Brendan Persley feed at 16:49.

Two shifts later, TJ Dumonceaux nearly tied the contest when his vicious slap shot rang off the cross bar. The Vipers continued to press but Briggs was unbeatable down low.

Max French's long clearing attempt walked into the empty Viper net two-tenths of a second before time expired and the Warriors had their first win in Vernon since January 2010. 

The loss dampened Vernon's chances of earning a playoff spot, even though Salmon Arm bowed 6-2 to the Victoria Grizzles.