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 Langley defeated Vernon 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,752 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Langley: James Barr
1st Period: Off the opening faceoff Mason Blacklock setup Liam Board on a nice crease pass but Board was stoned in front by James Barr who come across the crease to make a huge right pad save just twenty seconds into the contest. The Vipers come out with lots of jump and energy and looked very good in the opening few minutes before the Rivermen bounced back after a bit of a slow start pushing back with a few good hard working shifts of their own. It took Langley almost four minutes to record their first shot on goal as Vernon was outshooting Langley 4-1 early. The Rivermen would get the games first powerplay but with only one shot the Vipers penalty kill was good killing off the minor. Just after the penalty expired the Vipers would open the scoring after Michael Roberts setup Viper captain Brett Corkey who beat James Barr giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 7:34 Roberts with the only assist on the play. The Vipers slowly started to take over the edge in play were outshooting the Rivermen 7-4 at the halfway mark. Just under two minutes later Vernon would get their first powerplay but just like Langley one shot before the Rivermen killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired TJ Dumonceaux on an odd man rush setup Mason Blacklock who went in all alone for the parcial breakaway but shot way high up and way over the net missing on aexcellent opportunity. On the next shift Vernon would get their second man advantage but again just managed one shot as Langley would kill off the powerplay. The Vipers would jump ahead by two after Craig Martin beat Barr late giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 19:05 TJ Dumonceaux with the lone helper. The Vipers looked good in the opening period were the better of the two teams were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Langley 13-9.
2nd Period: Just two minutes into the period TJ Dumonceaux come down the right wing snapping a quick low shot from the circle that forced James Barr to stick out the right pad at the last second making a huge pad save. Just a few seconds later the Rivermen would get an early powerplay, Austin Smith made a big save off the BCHL's leading scorer Mario Puskarich after a quick shot from the slot got through traffic but somehow Smith managed to get his pad on the shot making the big save. Vernon with another good penalty kill would kill off the minor. The Rivermen didnt quit as Smith was forced to come up with another big save this time robbing Derek Sutliffe from the slot. The Rivermen would cut the Vernon lead to within a goal just after the powerplay expired. Mario Puskarich setup Tanner Johnson whos point shot beat Austin Smith at 5:34 Puskarich & James Robinson collected the assists. Just a few minutes later Mario Puskarich wired a hard shot from the top of the circle beating Smith but hitting the crossbar as Langley come very close to tying the game. The Vipers who didnt look like the same team after the 1st period were being outplayed and outworked for most of the second frame. Langley really stepped up their play and was really working hard. The Vipers would get a powerplay just past the midway mark but couldnt capitalize as the Rivermen with a good penalty kill would kill off the man advantage. Just two minutes later Langley would get a late powerplay and capitalize. Mario Puskarich's pass looked to get redirected or hit a stick along the way going up in the air before Matt Ustaski tapped in the rebound past Austin Smith at 16:36 tying the game 2-2. Puskarich and Mark Whiteley picked up the helpers. Not an overly physical game but Brendan Persley was exchanging words with Mario Puskarich and Trevor Cope in between stopages. The Rivermen with a very strong second period battled back with two goals this period tied the game after outplaying the Vipers who didnt manage much offence. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Langley 10-7.
3rd Period: Just fifty five seconds into the final frame Langley would get an early powerplay but with a very good penalty kill by Vernon the Vipers would excape killing off the minor. Just as the penalty expired Viktor Dombrovskiy was robbed by Smith come across the crease to make a huge pad save off Dombrovskiy. Both teams were fairly even early on before Mason Blacklock and Logan Mick would get a two on one six minutes into the third. Blacklock tried setting up Mick but Tanner Johnson made a huge defensive play breaking up the pass. You could see the Vipers were running out of gas as Vernon just didnt seem to have that jump-energy and were looking sluggish at times. Both teams looked to be playing very cautiously waiting for the other team to make the first mistake. Vernon would get a powerplay just past the halfway mark, on the penalty Langley would lose one of their coaching staff members as one of the Rivermen coaches was tossed from the game after picking up a misconduct. I dont know what coach was thrown out as the PA announcer didnt make the announcement. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage looking very disorganized before Langley would kill off the minor. Just after the powerplay the Rivermen with two back to back good opportunities. Langley setup Mitch McLain who was all alone in front got off a backhand forcing Austin Smith to make a huge save in front, on the next shift Evan Campbell was stopped in front after Smith made a nice save with traffic in front. The Vipers really stepped up their play in the second half and carried the better of the play as the Rivermen went atleast five minutes without getting a shot on goal. Mason Blacklock lead the charge with a three on two but the Vipers couldnt connect missing a good opportunity. Logan Mick with six minutes left had a great chance in front, went hard towards the goal but James Barr come up with a huge save in tight keeping this game tied. The Vipers with several goal mouth scrambles in the final minutes had several good opportunities but couldnt capitalize. I thought both teams looked to be fairly even in the first half before Vernon managed to dig out some late energy and carry the edge in play in the second half, getting some chances but couldnt beat Barr. It was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Langley 10-8.
Overtime: The Rivermen with the first chance of the extra period come close to winning it in the opening minute after Mario Puskarich setup Evan Campbell in front who was stopped by Austin Smith, Campbell stayed with the play gobbled up the rebound going in for his second opportunity but couldnt hit the net. It didnt take long before Langley would pull out the victory after James Robinson setup Tanner Johnson who's low shot beat Smith at 1:55 giving the Rivermen a 3-2 OT win. Langley carried the edge in play outshooting Vernon 2-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Marc Hetnik I thought was one of Vernon's better d-men tonight. Hetnik didnt make any real flashy plays or put up any numbers but played very solid on the Viper backend.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist) Played with alot of energy and showed alot of hustle tonight. Dumonceaux generated and created a few good scoring opportunities.
Logan Mick didnt see alot of icetime but I thought for the second straight game Mick played very well for the Vipers. Had a great chance to pull out the win with six minutes remaining but was stoned in front by James Barr.
Brendan Persley who has been fairly quiet latley wasnt involved in the play much but I thought was one of the Vipers hardest working players tonight. Battled and competed hard all game.
Austin Smith (23 saves) Played well between the pipes. Made some big saves for the Vipers through out tonight's contest.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After a very tough 3-2 loss in Salmon Arm last night the Vipers played well tonight but not good enough for the win in another tough loss this time ending in overtime. Like most of the season, the Vipers come out ready to play and look very good in the opening period but for whatever reason seem to take the second period off and it cost them tonight. Giving up two second period goals the Vipers blew a two goal lead before falling in overtime. Vernon who I think emptied the tank in last night's loss to Salmon Arm ran out of gas-energy tonight. As the game went on the Vipers just didnt seem to have the jump or energy to finish off tonight's game. Like Vipers Assistant Coach Dave Robinson talked about in the pre-game show the Vipers seem to sit back at times and make that one little mistake or turnover and it costs them hockey games. This team has been very incosistant all season and has had troubles playing a full sixty minutes.
Top Players: (Langley)
Jakub Reichert played a solid game up front for the Rivermen. Reichert laid out a few big checks battled and competed all night, seemed to be involved in the play most of the night.
Mario Puskarich (2 assists) Is very quick, a very good skater and has soft hands. I thought played and looked his best in the second period and into overtime. Really sees and reads the ice well.
Tanner Johnson (2 goals) Played a very solid game on the Rivermen blueline, this kid was very impressive and looked good all night. Made a solid defensive play in the third as well jumped up into the play on several occassions.
James Barr (32 saves) Played very well making 32 saves. A bigger goaltender dosnt give up alot of rebounds kept the Rivermen in the game at times. Made some big saves in the first and third periods.
Game Thoughts: (Langley)
The Rivermen made their first ever appearance to the Wesbild centre tonight. The last time Langley was in town (two years ago) they were known as the Langley Chiefs. The Rivermen dont have a very skilled team but a very big club with everyone over 6 feet except four players. Langley really moves the puck well and is a very hard working team, that dosnr quit. I think the Rivermen got off to a bit of a slow start but give them credit, they battled back in the middle frame, getting two goals tying the game and didnt give up. Both teams were very good on the penalty kill in a game that didnt have alot of excitement or emotion too.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Langley:
Austen Bietenbeck
Derek Sutliffe
Marco Romano
Aaron Dolby
Energy Player Of The Game:
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Tanner Johnson (2 goals)
2nd Star: Brett Corkey (1 goal)
3rd Star: Mario Puskarich (2 assists)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscores,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1103169&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game and the Langley Rivermen visit Brandon Astle's Langley Rivermen blog,
http://langleyrivermen.wordpress.com/
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