Game 3 Vernon @ Penticton: (Game Preview)

Penticton (4-3) @ Vernon (1-1)

After a must win in Game 2 the Vipers now play Games 3 & 4 on the road in Penticton, where the Vipers have lost their last two meetings. In the past two games at the new South Okanagan Events Centre Vernon got into penalty trouble and ran into some hot goaltending. Specialty teams and goaltending will be the difference tonight. The Vipers are 2 for 4 on the powerplay in the first two games, while the Vees are 2 for 7. The Vees are very strong on home ice winning 24 regular season games at the South Okanagan Events Centre, and are 3-0 at home during these Playoffs. Tonight is Vernons first game of the Playoffs on the road. It will be interesting to see who Fred Harbinson goes with between the pipes. Rookie backup goaltender, Sean Bonar got the start in Game 1 making 44 saves in a big 4-3 OT victory, before the Vees went back with veteran goaltender, Jordan White in Game 2 who looked very shaky giving up 5 goals in the loss. In two games Sean Bonar is 1-0 giving up 3 goals and has a 2.30 GAA In 6 games Jordan White is 3-3 giving up 19 goals and has a 3.28 GAA Pentictons going to need more offence from their top two lines who were no where to be seen in Game 2. The Vees are also going to have to get more shots on goal as the Vipers have outshot the Vees 92-59 in the first two games of this series. The Vipers have been getting scoring from all four lines. You can listen to tonight’s game with Todd Miller live on 105.7 Kiss FM starting at 6:45pm

Make sure and check out Ryan Pinders Penticton Vees blog, for more on this series. http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/

Heres a look at the 2nd Round Playoff Series:

March 6th @ Vernon: Game 1 Penticton wins 4-3 Overtime

Just minutes into the game Penticton goes on an early two man advantage, with Andrew Hammond out of his crease and covering the puck, the play still alive, allows the Vees to pick up the loose puck as Garrett Milan beat Hammond putting the Vees on the board first. Everyone starts pushing and shoving before Cameron Brodie and Kyle Bigos drop the gloves as the Vees come out of the mini scrum with a 7 minute powerplay. Vernon kills off the major and then Adam Thompson would tie the game on the powerplay late in the 1st period. Ryan Santana would be stopped on a penalty shot early to start the 2nd period. After some good pressure by the Vipers, Sean Bonar keeps his hockey club in the game, allowing Curtis McKenzie and Ryan Johansen (PP) to give the Vees a two goal lead heading into the 3rd. It was all Vernon in the final frame, as the Penticton defence tried shutting down the Vipers with some early solid defensive coverage before the Vipers would rally scoring two goals tying the game 3-3. Sahir Gill (PP) & rookie Kory Roy beat Bonar sending the game to Overtime. In the extra frame the Vipers looked very soft and nervous, making all kinds of defensive errors causing many turnovers, wich resulted in Garrett Milans 2nd goal of the night, giving the Vees their first win of the season in Vernon. Andrew Hammond made 28 saves in the loss, while Sean Bonar who was a surprise start made 44 saves in the victory.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=673290


March 7th @ Vernon: Game 2 Vernon wins 5-1

Kellen Jones put the Vipers on the board first, as the Vipers were up 1-0 after 20 mins of play. Vernon Captain, Chris Crowell would score two goals in the 2nd as the Vipers went up 3-0 after 40 mins of play, Vernon was all over Penticton outshooting them 18-5 in the 2nd period. Garrett Milan missed on a penalty shot on a great chance to get the Vees back into the game. Braden Pimm sealed the victory scoring just 35 seconds into the 3rd as Vernon jumped ahead 4-0. Matt Paltridge would beat Andrew Hammond with a long shot, getting Penticton on the scoreboard. Cole Ikkala rounded out the Vipers scoring late as Vernon tied the series 1-1 with a 5-1 victory. Andrew Hammond made 24 saves for the win. Jordan White made 40 saves in the loss. The Vipers outplayed the Vees for most of tonights game, outshooting them 45-25. This was Pentictons 7th game in 9 nights.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=673300


Key Players To Watch:

Vernon:

Chris Crowell 3 pts
Sahir Gill 3 pts
Connor Jones 2 pts
Braden Pimm 2 pts
Kellen Jones 2 pts
Mike Collins 2 pts
Cory Kane 0 pts
Cameron Brodie 0 pts
Andrew Hammond 1-1 record-2.32 GAA

Penticton:

Curtis McKenzie 9 pts
Ryan Johansen 7 pts
Garrett Milan 6 pts
Ryan Viselli 6 pts
Brodie Reid 6 pts
Max Grassi 5 pts
Travis Ouellette 4 pts
Zack Joespher 2 pts
Devon Krogh 2 pts