Thursday, February 12, 2015

Vernon 2 Penticton 1

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 Vipers-Vees game as Vernon defeated Penticton 2-1 in front of 2,411 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Penticton: Hunter Miska

1st Period: The Vees got off to a good start, got control of the play early and carried the play for the first few minutes.  Penticton with two good chances in the opening minute couldnt connect on passes going to the net.  The Vees with two early shots carried the play the first three and a half minutes before the Vipers would get the games first real quality chance.  Liam Coughlin three and a half minutes into the opening period come around the goal before getting a low shot off from the side of the net beat Hunter Miska down low would hit the bottom of the post as the puck rolled just above the goal line through the crease before a Vees defenceman was there to clear the puck from the blue paint.  Coughlin's shot even though hit the post was recorded as Vernon's first shot of the game.  The Vipers would slowly settle down and gain some momentum off Coughlin's chance would come back with a strong push as Vernon would get the next five shots on goal were outshooting the Vees 5-2 early with the Vipers now in control of the play.  Just before the midway mark Riley Brandt with a nice pass setup former Penticton Vees forward Liam Finlay who got inbehind the Vees defence ripped a hard shot from in close couldnt beat Hunter Miska who made a nice save off a Vernon scoring opportunity.  On the following shift the Vees would get the games first powerplay of the night.  On the man advantage Pat Newell was robbed by Danny Todosychuk who come across the crease to make a huge left pad save keeping this game scoreless.  Penticton moving the puck around had good pressure didnt get alot of grade "A" chances did get looks at the net as Todosychuk was forced to made a few saves before making another big save just as the powerplay expired.  The Vees with two real good opportunities couldnt open the scoring.  The Vees would gain a little momentum after the PP continue to force the play as Penticton would carry the play for the following few minutes before the Vipers would re-gain the puck-play and come back with a few hard working shifts of their own as the flow of play was fairly evenly matched.  With just over seven minutes remaining Thomas Aldworth alone at the side of the net ripped a hard high shot forcing Miska into making a big save.  The Vees would finish off the 1st with good pressure in the final minutes before the Vipers would reply with the same and end the frame on a strong note.  Thomas Aldworth with his second good chance of the period couldnt beat Miska's glove with a minute and a half to go.  Aldworth's hard shot from the top of the circle forced Miska into making a quick glove save just getting a peice of Aldworth's shot with the tip of his glove.  The Vipers with good pressure in the final few minutes.  It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play.  A fairly even played period with both teams getting different lengths of time with the edge in play.  The Vipers had the better of the scoring chances as Penticton outshot Vernon 12-10.

2nd Period: The Vipers with a good start to the middle frame left off where they finished the 1st period.  Vernon would get a few quick shots on goal in the opening minute before Jagger Williamson took advantage of a bad turnover deep in the Vees zone.  The Penticton defenceman lost the puck behind his own goal line before Williamson scooped up the puck, raced out front before beating Hunter Miska on the second opportunity giving the Vipers an early 1-0 lead at 1:00 Williamson's goal was unassisted.  Vernon kept coming and got a good jump on the Vees early, the Vipers with some good pressure were getting pucks to the net were outshooting Penticton 6-3 in the opening few minutes.  The Vees needed almost four minutes to record their first shot of the period.  Shortly after the Vipers couldnt clear the zone and the Vees would capitalize on a turnover inside the Vipers own end.  Pat Newell would be stopped by Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk before Tyson Jost tied the game on the rebound at 5:54 Newell and Dante Fabro collected the helpers.  This goal seemed to0 give the Vees some life as Penticton with a strong push back would carry the play for the following few minutes.  The Vees with good pressure had the Vipers back on their heels a bit.  Pat Newell was left all alone up the middle was able to walk into the slot before being stoned by Danny Todosychuk who made a huge save.  Just past the midway mark Nicholas Rasovic looked to have a look at a breakaway but couldnt chase down the loose puck before Patrick Sexton with a diving play come up with a huge defensive play to stop Rasovic from a chance at the loose puck.  Just over two minutes later Penticton would get their second look at the man advantage.  Liam Coughlin would steal the puck at the blueline and go in for the breakaway had Vees starting goaltender Hunter Miska beat as the puck rolled through the crease and out the other side into the corner on a great shorthanded opporunity.  The Vipers with a strong penalty kill were getting in the shooting lanes, come up with a few shot blocks would kill off the minor.  Seconds later Vernon would get their first powerplay of the game.  The Vipers needed just seven seconds to capitalize after Liam Finlay setup TJ Dumonceaux in front who beat Miska giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 16:09 Finlay & Liam Coughlin picked up the assists.  The Vees would get a late odd man rush with just over two minutes to go but Riley Brandt with good hustle got back into the play to break up the attack on a strong defensive play.  Vernon was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.  The Vipers with a good start, had lots of jump early capitalized on a Vees turnover in the opening minute opened the scoring.  Vernon had the better of the play early didnt get alot of great chances before the Vees would come back to tie the game.  This goal gave the Vees life as Penticton then had the better of the play.  I thought Vernon was the better team in the first half before the Vees were the better team in the second half.  The Vipers with a late powerplay goal took a one goal lead into the third.  Vernon outshot Penticton 13-11.

3rd Period: The Vees with a strong start got pucks to the net early would get an early powerplay just fourty four seconds into the final frame.  Danny Todosychuk had to be alert was forced into making some key saves while a strong Viper penalty kill was able to kill off the minor.  Penticton kept coming and looked to have the Vipers on their heels.  Todosychuk made two big saves just after the penalty kill kept this a one goal game.  The Vees with lots of pressure early were outshooting Vernon 9-0 in the first five minutes.  The Vipers needed just over eight minutes to record their first shot of the period as it was all Vees early and often.  The Viper defence played very well kept the Vees to the outside limited Penticton's chances.  Penticton with some good chances early didnt get as good of chances as the period went on.  Vernon come up with several big shot blocks couldnt seem to get out of their own end.  The Vees didnt get alot of great chances managed to get some looks at the net couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk who was playing very well.  Penticton was outshooting Vernon 13-2 at the halfway mark.  It was all Vees as Penticton carried the majority of the play and dominated the play.  In the second half the Vipers were finally able to get the puck out of their own end playing more of a dump and defend third period.  Vernon with very few shifts inside the Vees zone were playing very well defensively.  The Vipers would get a few pucks in deep but couldnt get any sustained pressure in the Penticton zone as the Vees were pressing for the game tying goal.  With just over six minutes remaining a shot from the corner looked to handcuff Todosychuk who couldnt coral the loose puck as the Vees couldnt capitalize on a wrap around at the other end of the net.  The Vipers now playing more of a shutdown role were really limiting the Vees to any offensive chances as Vernon with several good minutes of just getting the puck out and deep killing off lots of valuable time off the clock.  With a few minutes to go the Vipers would get their first real good chance getting three quick shots all from in close couldnt beat Hunter Miska before the Vees come back the other way Lewis Zerter-Gossage would get a breakaway but get robbed by the quick glove of Danny Todosychuk.  The Vipers did a good job at tying up the Vees in the neutral zone not allowing Miska a chance to come out of the crease for the extra attacker.  Miska would eventually get to the bench for the extra attacker with fourty seven seconds to go, the Vees with good pressure down low couldnt force any real quality chances before icing the puck with 9.2 seconds remaining.  Penticton couldnt get out of their own end as time would expire and the Vernon Vipers would hold on for the 2-1 win.  The Vees got off to a good start, had an early powerplay in the opening minute couldnt convert would pour on the pressure couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk.  The Vees would get a few good looks in the opening few minutes couldnt tie the game.  As the period went on Vernon's defence was solid really limiting the Vees shots and chances.  Vernon would then get into a defensive shell and demp and defend shut down the Vees offence to hold onto the one goal victory.  Penticton outshot Vernon 17-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Kenny Citron I thought played a very strong game on the Vipers blueline.  Played physical, was strong on the boards and moving the puck well.  Looked very calm and confident tonight.

The line of Mckenzie Bauer, Linden Hora and Nicholas Rasovic was very good.  Bauer & Hora were both very strong on the puck, battled and competed hard down low and in and around the net played very well.  All three were strong on the forecheck.  How much confidence does Mark Ferner have in these two?  Both Hora and Bauer were on the penalty kill in the 2nd period.  Rasovic also was hard on the puck, played physical, blocked atleast two shots on the penalty kill forced the play.  This line played and worked hard all night.

Luke Shiplo with another strong performance on the backend.  Looks so confident out there, a real smooth skater, moves the puck well, likes to join the rush and carry the puck alot.  Was very strong moving the puck.

Thomas Aldworth was really skating hard tonight, had atleast three or four scoring chances played very well.

Danny Todosychuk (39 saves) Has really come into his own this season, battled through all the injuries and suspension has really played well this season, his last of Junior hockey.  Has really played well the last two weeks, gave his team a chance to win.  Made a huge pad save off Pat Newell on the penalty kill in the opening period and then another big save off Newell from the slot in the 2nd period.  Stood tall in the 3rd made several key saves with the Vees pressing.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

The Vipers wraped up a six game road trip with a huge 2-1 victory over the League leading Penticton Vees get just their third win in Penticton since 2011.  This was also the first time the Vipers have scored a goal at the SOEC this season, were shutout in both games earlier this season in Penticton.  Vernon with a huge monkey off their back get their first win over the Vees this season are now 1-5 vs Penticton face the Vees once more in Penticton for the final game of the regular season.  The Vipers come home with just two wins on this road trip have two wins in their last seven games get a big confidence booster with the win tonight.  With the win Vernon will clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row.  The Vipers with a strong performance tonight played hard, battled and fought hard earned the win a a defensive battle come the 3rd period.  The Vipers really did a good job at shutting down Penticton's top guns, limited their chances most of the night kept the Vees to the outside.  Vernon did a good job at shutting down Cody DePourcq who has been a Viper killer the past few seasons.  I thought Vernon looked good in the opening two periods were back on their heels to start the third couldnt get through the neutral zone.  Give the Vipers defence alot of credit for limiting the Vees shots and chances didnt give up alot of Grade "A" chances in the 3rd.  Vernon's defence come up with some timely blocks in the 3rd played very well defensively.  The Vees were forced to the outside most of the final frame.  I really liked the Viper penalty kill and goaltending.  Danny Todosychuk gave his team a chance to win and got some help in front of him.  The Vipers now return home to face two real good hockey clubs.  The red hot Salmon Arm Silverbacks are here Friday, who shutout the Vipers in back to back games two weeks ago and then the league's second best team the Nanaimo Clippers who have former Vipers Head Coach-GM Mike Vandekamp behind the bench.  This was a key test for the Vipers tonight, they now need to carry this win and get some confidence-momentum back and get back on the winning track before the playoffs.  This weekend will be another big test for Vernon.

Top Player's: (Penticton)

Gabe Bast played very well on the Vees blueline.  Dosnt give up alot along the wall or in front of the net.

Pat Newell (1 assist) I thought was Penticton's best player tonight.  Was really skating, seemed to find that open ice, wich resulted in a scoring opportunity.  Picked up one assist had two real good chances couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk in the 1st and 2nd periods.  Really sees the ice well, a good skater.

Patrick Sexton was another Vees d-man that I thought was solid on the backend.  made a big defensive play to break up a Viper breakaway in the 2nd period.  A big kid that is hard to play against.

Tyson Jost (1 goal) Was in and around the Vernon goal often, looking for rebounds-loose pucks.  Scored once didnt get any real scoring chances did play well.

Hunter Miska (27 saves) Played well through out the game, obviously didnt see as much rubber as Danny Todosychuk but made the key saves when called apon.  Miska is now 5-1 vs Vernon this year. 

Game Thought's: (Penticton)

The Vees suffer their first two game losing streak of the season now have just one win in their last five games.  This was also just the third loss at home this season and the first loss of the season to the Vipers.  Penticon's last loss at home was a 4-3 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors on November 29th.  I thought both teams looked fairly even after two periods before Penticton really took over the play come the 3rd.  It was all Vees in the final frame who couldnt get a bounce or much puck luck that final twenty minutes.  Yes Penticton outplayed the Vipers but the Vees didnt generate alot of real good scoring chances.  Vernon's defence limited their shots and chances forcing Penticton to the outside.  The Vees with lots of pressure early seemed to be frustrated as the period went on didnt have as much of the play in the second half of the third.  I thought both teams did a good job at shutting down each other's top lines and limited scoring chances at both ends of the rink.  This game was very entertaining and could have easily gone either way.  Great crowd out for a Wednesday night!  These two teams will meet once more in Penticton on the 27th.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Blaine Caton (Injured)
Anthony Latina (Suspended)
Luke Voltin (Injured)
Colton McCarthy (Suspended)

Penticton:

Mike Lee
Cam Amantea

Energy player of the game:

Demico Hannoun

Three Stars:

1st Star: Danny Todosychuk (39 saves)
2nd Star: Luke Shiplo
3rd Star: Tyson Jost (1 goal)

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358488&link=bchl

Fraser Rogers Penticton Vees Blog,

https://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/
     

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