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 RBC Cup game as Dauphin defeated Vernon 5-2 at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Dauphin: Michael Stiliadis
1st Period: Both teams started off slow, it looked like both teams were trying to feel one another out in the opening few minutes. The Vipers would get the games first opportunity after sending Dallas Calvin in for the breakaway three and a minutes into the contest but fired wide missing on a great opportunity to opening the scoring. Just less then a minute later Tyler Poveolfskie with a good hard rush to the net got in close tried going in and around former Vipers goaltender Michael Stiliadis but was hooked on the play, didnt get off a good shot put Vernon on the games first powerplay. The Vipers couldnt get the powerplay clicking having troubles setting up as Dauphin would almost kill off the minor before the Vipers would take a penalty. Vernon would lose Demico Hannoun for ten minutes after a checking to the head penalty. After a short shift of four on four the Kings would get their first shot with the man advantage but couldnt capitalize. Just four minutes later the Vipers would get their second powerplay and come very close to opening the scoring after Riley Guenther with a slap pass setup Colton Sparrow at the side of the net was robbed by Michael Stiliadis who come across the crease to make a huge game saver off Sparrow keeping this game scoreless. The Kings would go down two men as Vernon would get a two man advantage. Brett Mulcahy would be stopped in front after another big from Stiliadis. The Kings would get some big saves on the penalty kill killing off the two man advantage. Just as the penalty expired Dauphin was able to get the play up ice, after few passes the Vipers were getting a penalty but before touching the puck, Dillan McCombie setup a wide open Brayden Cuthbert who had Austin Smith down and out way out of position hit the open net giving the Kings a 1-0 lead at 15:13 McCombie with the only assist on the play. Just fourty seven seconds later on a two on one, Jared Morris kept and shot beat Smith high giving Dauphin a 2-0 lead at 16:00 Jesse Bernard with the only helper on the play. The Vipers would come right back a few minutes later Vernon moving the puck around, had some good pressure setup Colton Sparrow in front who was robbed by Michael Stiliadis once again who made a huge glove save from in close. The Vipers slowly gaining control of the play late in the period come close once again to opening the scoring. With a minute to go a quick shot from in close went up and over the Kings net looked like it graized the crossbar before landing on top of the net on a close play. Dauphin with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. It took both teams some time to get the flow of play going as both teams looked a little tenative early trying to feel one another out. Both teams exchanged powerplays before Vernon missed a great opportunity not capitalizing on a two man advantage. It also didnt help the Kings got some solid goaltender from Michael Stiliadis who come up huge on the penalty kill and late in the period. The Kings with two quick back to back goals late were up 2-0 in a period where the Vipers had the better of the chances. Vernon outshot Dauphin 11-5.
2nd Period: Danny Todosychuk started the period in goal for Vernon, replacing Austin Smith who allowed two goals on five Dauphin shots. Todosychuk is seeing his first action is a 5-1 loss in the Vipers final game of the regular season in Merritt on March 1st. Just 1:50 into the middle frame Brett Hope's dump in shot went off the back boards hit the back of Todosychuk's pads and into the net putting the Kings up 3-0 early to start the 2nd period. Brett Sharples with the assist. This goal took the wind out of the sails from the Vipers, as Vernon looked deflated. The Vipers didnt know what hit them and didnt know how to respond as from here on in for the remainder of the period the Vipers were a mess, couldnt get anything going for them. Both teams played a little four on four early but Vernon really struggled, several poor passes, players not on the same page, the Vipers down three goals looked to be trying too hard and couldnt do anything right. On the other side the Kings werent doing much of anything either as this was a pretty sloppy and scrambled period on both sides of the rink. Danny Todosychuk was forced to make his biggest save of the game since replacing Austin Smith stopped Dylan Buttler in close. Vernon went nine minutes until getting their first shot of the period. The Vipers had just two shots on goal in the first thirteen minutes. Both teams had no real control of the puck or play in a very dissorganised period. Both teams had a shortened powerplay before the Vipers would get their first powerplay of the period and didnt even record a single shot on goal as the Kings killed off the minor. Late in the period Dauphin would jump out to a 4-0 lead. Hudson Morrison won the draw setup Tyler Garrioch going to the net beat Todosychuk at 16:09 Morrison with the helper. This goal basically put the game away even though there was still a full period left to play. The Kings were up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. Brett Hope's bank shot off the back boards that went in and off Danny Todosychuk's pads was the back breaker-turning point. Now down 3-0 this goal took the wind out of the sails and totally devistated the Vipers. Vernon didnt know what to do or how to respond. The Vipers looked flustered and frustarted having all kinds of troubles getting anything going most of the period. The Kings on the other side, didnt look that great either, I thought were lucky to get two goals in a period where they also didnt look that great or do much. Dauphin outshot Vernon 9-3.
3rd Period: The Vipers started the period on the powerplay after the Kings took a penalty at the end of the last period. Dauphin would get into penalty trouble early into the period wich gave Vernon an early two man advantage, their second of the night. It didnt take the Vipers powerplay long to strike, after Josh Bryan setup Colton Sparrow at the side of the net who went high on Kings starting goaltender Michael Stiliadis cut the Dauphin lead to three at 1:07 Bryan and Demico Hannoun collected the assists. Vernon wasnt able to capitalize on the second powerplay but still come back with some good pressure. Mason Blacklock with a backhand from the high slot got off a shot that hit a Kings player in front of the crease, the puck slowly trickled by the side of the crease on a close call. The Vipers were really skating, come hard to start the third carried the edge in play but couldnt generate alot of opportunities. The game got chippy in the third as the Vipers would take an undisaplined penalty taking two minors giving Dauphin a full two man advantage. Vernon was able to kill it off after a good penalty kill and just over two minutes later captain Ryan Renz with a nice indivdual effort down low got Vernon to within two goals at 9:38 Colton Sparrow with the assist. But less then a minute later the Kings would re-take the three goal lead after Brent Wold beat Danny Todosychuk at 10:35 giving the Kings a 5-2 lead. Justin Valentino picked up the assist. The Vipers didnt quit as Vernon pushed back, the Vipers were the better of the two teams and carried the better of the play but Vernon couldnt generate much offence. The Kings defence and goaltending was great through out the game including the third. Dauphin kept the Vipers to the outside did a good job at limiting Vernon's chances. Late in the game with the score out of reach Michael McNicholas would get a breakaway with 1:23 remaining was stopped by Stiliadis. In the end Dauphin would come away with the 5-2 victory improving to 3-0 while Vernon falls to 1-2. The Vipers with a hard working period scored early but just couldnt generate much offence or get any breaks. I thought Vernon was the better team in the third, carried most of the play but didnt get any real great opportunties. The Kings also didnt generate alot of scoring chances but capitalized on their chances. Vernon outshot Dauphin 17-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Colton Sparrow (1 goal & 1 assist) Was Vernon's best player through out the game and the only Viper that really stood out. Sparrow who put this team on his back come playoffs has really been on fire since the opening round of the BCHL playoffs. Had atleast two maybe three great opportunties in the 1st couldnt beat Michael Stiliadis. Sparrow worked and played hard all night.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
It took both teams a fair amount of time to try and feel each other out as both teams were very tenative to start the game. The Vipers with three powerplays in the first period had some real good chances to open the scoring but couldnt beat former team mate Michael Stiliadis who come up large making some game savers. I dont think either team really stood out in the opening period but the Vipers had the better of the scoring chances. Dauphin with basically two opportunities, scored on both chances. In the 2nd period, I said it before and will say it again. Brett Hope's bank shot off the back boards that went in and off Danny Todosychuk's pads was the back breaker-turning point. The Vipers didnt know what to do or how to respond and now in a panic were trying too hard, making things difficult. Vernon struggled in the 2nd period with several poor passes, missed passes, players out of position. The Vipers were rattled and couldnt recover. Take away the Vipers 2nd period and this is a different game-outcome. On the other side, the Kings also didnt look that great in the middle frame but scored on again two opportunties. I dont think Dauphin had a great second period either. Give the Vipers credit, they didnt quit. Vernon come out strong to start the 3rd, scored early but had troubles generating offence. The Kings with a shutdown period kept the Vipers to the outside, limited their chances. Vernon got to within two goals before the Kings come right back re-gaining the three goal lead and by then the hill was just too big to climb. One thing I have noticed in the tournament is that Vernon has had troubles producing offence and creating chances. In all three games at the RBC Cup the Vipers havent generated alot of great opportunities in the three games. Another thing to look at is what if the Vipers score on some of these good looks at the net-opportunties in that opening period and jump out to a two or three nothing lead. It's now the Kings who have to try and battled back, we may have a different outcome. The Vipers need to be better and have yet to play a full sixty minutes at the tournament. I noticed Dylan Chanter was on the bench but didnt see a shift in the 3rd? Last night and again tonight. Another small crowd once again for the Vipers. The crowds keep getting smaller and smaller as the games go on. Pretty sad Vernon!!
Top Players: (Dauphin)
Chandler Irvin Played very well on the Kings blueline. Didnt make alot of mistakes, kept the game simple, was steady all night.
Ryan Cooper Also played very well for Dauphin. Involved in the play, a good skater.
Brent Wold (1 goal) Played alot, was good in all positions, quick on his feet, always in and around the net played well.
Brayden Cuthbert (1 goal) Opened the scoring tonight has looked good at the RBC Cup.
Michael Stiliadis (29 saves) Faced his former team for the first time coming away with a solid performance and the win. Was very good in the 1st especially on the penalty kill and late in the opening period making some big saves. The former Viper then was sharp in the 3rd played very well.
Game Thought's (Dauphin)
The Duphin Kings are a good hockey team, were they that good tonight? I dont think so. I think both teams will tell you they werent that good but I thought the Kings got the goaltending when needed and capitalized on their chances. Dauphin also had a very good penalty kill and was very good defensively. Kept Vernon to the outside most of the night, limited the Vipers chances. The Kings got a few lucky bounces and breaks but that happens, a bounce or two go Vernon's way and its maybe a different game or score. The Kings played well I just dont think they played great or a full sixty minutes. Give credit to Dauphin they moved to 3-0 and sit atop the RBC Cup standings.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton
Matty Saharchuk
Dauphin:
Riley Thiessen
Taran Lacquette
Cameron Whyte
Tristan Mullin
Players of the Game:
Vernon: Colton Sparrow (1 goal & 1 assist)
Dauphin: Michael Stiliadis (29 saves)
For more on tonight's game and the game summary visit Hockey Canada's website,
http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/game/show/6544974?subseason=142110&referrer=1060585&referrer=1060585
For more on tonight's game and the Dauphin Kings visit the Kings blog
http://dauphinskingdom.wordpress.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment