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 Interior Division Finals Game 3 as Penticton took a 2-1 series lead after a 4-3 victory over Vernon in front of 1,803 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Penticton: Hunter Miska
1st Period: The Vipers come out strong, getting the play in deep the Vipers cycled the puck down low before setting up Brett Mulcahy in front just ten seconds into Game 3 but Hunter Miska come up with a huge game saver in the opening seconds. The Vees come right back, on the same shift Austin Smith was forced to make a huge save at the other end of the rink after stoning Mitch Newsome alone in front. Vernon would open the scoring after Demico Hannoun setup TJ Dumonceaux on a two on one as Dumonceaux didnt get all of his shot that just squeaked by Hunter Miska and into the back of the net giving the Vipers a early 1-0 lead at 1:43 Hannoun & Mason Blacklock collected the assists. The Vipers with a great start had the early jump on Penticton before the Vees would battle back to tie the game. Jack Ramsey from behind the goal setup Matt Serratore in front who beat Austin Smith on a quick bang bang play tying the game 1-1 at 4:28 Ramsey and Riley Alferd picked up the helpers. Penticton would get the games first powerplay just seconds later. The Vees working the puck around setup Jarod Hilderman whos point shot just about tied the game in the dying seconds of the man advantage but went off the post as Vernon got lucky and would kill off the penalty. Just as the powerplay expired Demico Hannoun setup Brendan Persley on a two on one as Persley's shot looked to be poke checked by the stick of Miska as the puck went up and into the corner. Persley would stay with the play and puck took a shot from the corner that banked in and off Miska in front giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 7:07 Hannoun and TJ Dumonceaux with the helpers. Less then two minutes later Vernon would get their first man advantage of the night and capitalize. Josh Bryan's point shot hit traffic in front before a scramble for the loose puck come out to Brett Mulcahy who went upstairs giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead at 9:41 Bryan & Michael McNicholas with the assists. This was the end of the night for Vees starting goaltender Hunter Miska. Miska gave up three goals on just six Vernon shots. Olivier Mantha come off the bench in to replace Miska. The Vipers looked good in the first half carried a slight edge in play before the Vees come back in the second half of the period. With around five minutes remaining Mason Blacklock's shot from in the slot was stopped by Mantha as the puck went high up in the air before coming down bouncing off the top of the crossbar rolling over the top of the net and onto the ice behind the goal on a funny bounce as the Vees got lucky that puck didnt hit or bounce in on a close call. Penticton would get a late powerplay, their second of the night and come close to cutting the Viper lead to within a goal after Cody DePourcq with some hard work down low tried beating Austin Smith down low but was stopped after a big pad save by the Vernon goaltender. A good penalty kill by the Vipers who only gave up the one opportunity would kill off the minor before getting their second man advantage of the night in the final minute. The Vipers couldnt get much going before the 1st period come to an end. Vernon was up 3-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers with a great start had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the opening seconds before scoring within the first two minutes. The Vipers with some good jump capitalized on atleast one lucky break to take a 3-1 lead. I thought the Vipers were very good and were the better of the two teams in the first half before Penticton come on in the second half and carried a slight edge in play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 13-9.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the 2nd period on the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. A strong aggresive forecheck by the Vees had the Vipers struggling on the powerplay as Penticton would kill off the minor. Less then two minutes later the Vees would get their third powerplay of the game. Brad McClure who was very hard to contain tonight was able to walk out from the circle ripped a hard shot that couldnt beat the glove of Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith. McClure wasnt done as on the next shift the Vees captain who looked to be pinned along the end wall excaped walking out and through the middle before sniping a quick shot past Smith getting the Vees back to within one at 5:17 Brett Beauvais collected the lone helper. Penticton with a ton of jump really turned on the jets as the Vees were all over Vernon the entire period. The Vipers struggled to contain Penticton's speed, forecheck and skill all night and it showed in the final two periods. The Vees were buzzing in and around the net all period as Vernon couldnt get out of their own end. The Vipers did limit the Vees opportunities but Penticton with a strong aggresive forecheck down low was winning the battles and races all night. The Vees didnt generate alot of chances but come close to tying the game after Travis Blanleil was stopped by Austin Smith on a Penticton odd man rush. Vernon had troubles getting the play in the Vees zone saw very limited zone time. The Vipers would get a late four minute powerplay but a very strong aggresive penalty kill by the Vees kept the Vipers to the outside, closed up the shooting lanes, made it very difficult for Vernon to get pucks to the net as the Vees would kill off some of the penalty before the period would come to an end. Vernon with a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. This period was all Penticton as the Vees looked to have the puck on a string most of the night dominated the play down low, the Vipers had troubles containing the Vees speed, forecheck and aggresive play down low. Penticton worked extremely hard to win the battles and races forcing the Vipers into turning over the puck on several occasions. The Vees didnt get alot of opportunities but capitalized on the powerplay to get within a goal heading into the third. The Vees outshot the Vipers 12-6.
3rd Period: The Vipers started the final frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. Colton Sparrow with a quick low shot from in tight couldnt beat Olivier Mantha who made a huge left pad save keeping this a one goal game. The Vees with a solid penalty kill kept Vernon to the outside as the Vipers with just two shots on a four minute powerplay couldnt strike. After a huge penalty kill the Vees went back to work and just like the second period Penticton dominated the play the entire 3rd. The Vees moving the puck well were in the Vernon zone the entire period. Brad McClure once again was able to rome around before ripping a hard shot from the circle that beat Smith but hit the outside of the post. The Vipers did limit the Vees to a limited amount of scoring chances as the Vees were wheeling and dealing in the Vernon end had the Vipers going in circles at times. Penticton would get the periods only man advantage but a strong penalty kill by the Vipers would kill off the minor. With time slowly winding down you could see the Vees were just a shot away from tying the hockey game and thats what exactly happened. Cody DePourcq was tied up along the end wall was able to break free, come out front was all alone patiently waited for Austin Smith to make his move before sliding the puck low along the ice to tie the game 3-3 at 15:33 Brad McClure with the assist. This goal sent the Vees bench and their fans into a frenzy as the Vipers two goal lead was gone. The Vees wernt done and just over two minutes later would grab their first lead of the night. Once again Brad McClure was able to walk in all alone was stopped by Smith before Matt Serratore pounced on the rebound put the Vees ahead 4-3 at 17:39 McClure with the helper. The Vipers at this point were being badly outplayed had just one shot in the period, wich was back on the powerplay to start the 3rd. The Vees dominating the game scored two late goals to take the lead. Vernon would eventually get the puck deep in the Vees zone, where they would move the puck around were able to get a few pucks to the net before pulling Austin Smith with 1:15 to go. Both teams would take turns calling timeouts. The Vipers with no real quality shots couldnt get much of anything going as the Vees strong defensive play and aggresive forecheck were able to force the Vipers and the puck back into the neutral zone on several occasions before the buzzer sounded as Penticton with a huge come from behind 4-3 win takes a 2-1 series lead. As the Vees were coming on the ice to congratulate Olivier Mantha on the win, it looked like Brad McClure tried skating into the Vipers end for the game puck but was turned away from the linesmen. Vees Head Coach-GM Fred Harbinson was still on the bench exchanging words with several Viper players as they skated off the ice. After a huge penalty kill to start the 3rd the Vees dominated the final period in all positions looked like men against boys in the 3rd scored two late goals on two hard working shifts come from behind for the 4-3 victory. The Vees with very little chances worked the boards down low. The Vipers who couldnt get out of their own end and get any zone time had just one shot on net with three minutes to go in the game were back on their heels, were outskated and outworked the entire period blew a 3-1 lead for the second straight game. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist) Was by far the Vipers best player tonight. This kid was flying, really skating hard, worked his butt off the entire game was a workhorse. Was great at both ends of the rink and did a heck of a job on the penalty kill, on one penalty kill in the 1st period carried the puck deep into the Vees zone before battling strong along the end wall against three Penticton players was able to kill off atleast twenty seconds or more of the clock.
Brett Mulcahy (1 goal) I thought also worked hard, battled and competed all night was in the trenches all game.
Colton Sparrow Was another Vernon player that battled hard, was in the greasy areas digging for pucks or space, worked hard all night.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
For the second straight game the Vipers let a 3-1 lead slip away in both games. Vernon was up 3-1 with three minutes remaining in the 2nd period in Game 2 lost 5-3 before blowing a two goal lead tonight. These are games that will kill you in the playoffs and end your season in a hurry. The Vipers are very lucky they are not down 3-0 in this series as they come very close to blowing a 3-1 lead in Game 1 but were able to just hang on for the 4-3 win. The Vipers with a great start looked very good in the first ten minutes of the game slowly let Penticton back in the game before being outplayed, outskated and outworked in the final two periods. The Vipers with a physical 1st period got away from laying the body in the final two periods. Vernon has had some great starts in alot of games this season but has had troubles all year to put teams away when up by two or three goals. The Vipers needed to score the 4th and maybe 5th goal and really step on the gas but didnt and it cost them. I also thought after the Vipers chased Hunter Miska from the crease, they didnt get enough pucks-traffic in and on Olivier Mantha who come in cold didnt see much action for the remainder of the game. This is when you want to fire everything and anything on net, get bodies going to the net, try and get him off his game. In all three games now Penticton has been the better of the two teams. The Vipers cant seem to get any real zone time through out the game. The Vipers have been outshot every game this series, have had troubles generating chances, gettings pucks to the net and playing in the Vees end with some pressure. Defensively the Vipers have had trouble all series containing the Vees speed, skill and aggresive forecheck and its cost them. Vernon just isnt quick enough making that first pass out of their own end, they take way too long to move the puck out and its right back in their own end after a turnover. The Vipers need to find a way to contain the Vees speed and forecheck down low as well as stopping Brad McClure or this series is going to be over in a hurry. Vernon with a must win tomorrow night.
Top Players: (Penticton)
Alex Coulombe I thought played well on Penticton's blueline. Had a few shot blocks as well as atleast two nice defensive plays.
Josh Blanchard returned to the Vees lineup tonight was very good down low and in the Viper end. This kid isnt the biggest kid but battles hard, was strong along the boards, very quick, moves around alot, wich made for it hard for Vernon to contain him.
The line of Matt Serratore (2 goals), Riley Alferd (1 assist) & Jack Ramsey (1 assist) was very good. I really liked this line in Game 1 and they played just as well in Game 3 tonight. This line plays hard, dosnt quit, always skating hard, going to the net, they move the puck well and seem to know where each other is at all times.
Cody DePourcq (1 goal) Was a buzzsaw tonight, one of the smallest players never quits skating and working. Had a very strong game at both ends of the rink for the Vees. DePourcq gave the Vipers defence all kinds of troubles as Vernon had difficulty containing the Vees veteran forward. Scored a real nice game tying goal after a hard indivdual effort breaking free from a check along the end wall before cutting hard to the net slid the puck under Austin Smith to tie the game.
Chris Rygus was solid on the Penticton backend. Was hard to beat on one one and very good defensively.
Brad McClure (1 goal & 2 assists) What can you say about the Vees captain. This kid has played very strong and very well against the Vipers all season. McClure is a workhorse and gave the Vipers all kinds of trouble tonight and in the series. McClure was very hard to contain-slow down-stop giving the Vipers all kinds of trouble. This kid can skate, move the puck and has a wicked shot. Carrys the Vees on his back some nights was involved in the Vees last three goals.
Game Thought's: (Penticton)
Give the Vees full credit for not quiting! This team never quits, they work extremely hard. Penticton down 3-1 in all three games now have comeback in two of the three games were very close to pulling out the come from behind win in Game 1 falling just short. The Vees are the better of the two teams and it showed tonight, as it was like the men playing against the boys. The Vees gave up several opportunities, two odd man rushes and three early goals fell behind early but battled back with a very strong performance. Penticton is now 3-0 on the road in the playoffs dominated the 2nd and 3rd periods were all over the Vipers in all area's of the ice. The Vees didnt generate alot of scoring chances but are very strong down low and along the wall, giving Vernon all kinds of troubles all night. The Vees are very good at forcing turnovers, making the Vipers cough up the puck, forcing the play and winning the battles and races. This team is very quick, can move the puck well, hard to contain and can make a play happen in a hurry. A huge four minute penalty kill at the end of the 2nd period and to start the 3rd was the turning point. A powerplay goal by Vernon and this may put the game away or atleast be enough for a Viper win but a solid penalty kill the Vees were able to rally, to score two late for the come from behind win.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton (Injured)
Matty Saharchuk
Penticton:
Ben Dalpe (Injured)
Cam Amantea (Injured)
Shane McColgan (Injured)
Energy player of the game:
Colton Sparrow
Three Stars:
1st Star: Brad McClure (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Matt Serratore (2 goals)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1312995&link=bchl
For more on the Penticton Vees & tonight's game visit Fraser Rodgers Vees blog,
http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/
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