Game 5 Penticton @ Vernon (Game Preview)

Penticton (4-5) @ Vernon (3-1)

The season is on the line tonight for the defending BCHL Champion Penticton Vees. The Vees are down 3-1 in the series and have to make a huge comeback winning the remaining games of this series if they expect to move on to the next round. You can bet both teams will be ready to play and lay it all on the line tonight. The Vipers are one win away from moving on to the Interior Conference Finals but the fourth game is always the toughest to clinch. Penticton is facing elimination on the road, in Vernon where the Vees have just one victory in six games at the Wesbild Centre. Penticton is going to have to have everyone ready for battle and come up with their best effort of the season if they want to beat Vernon. The Vees are going to have to try and solve Andrew Hammond who has looked very solid in these Playoffs. The Vipers are going to have to try and get to the Vees goaltending, whoever gets the start in net tonight. Once again specialty teams and goaltending will be key in tonights game. It will be interesting to see who plays in goal for the Vees, Jordan White or Sean Bonar? 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

March 9th @ Penticton: Game 3 Vernon wins 3-2

Cory Kane breaks a 2-2 with two and a half minutes left to score the winner for Vernon. Andrew Hammond was a rock between the pipes for the Vipers coming up huge making many big saves helping the Vipers to the 3-2 victory. A very entertaining game overall with some very tight checking defensive plays at both ends of the rink. Kyle Bigos and Kellen Jones scored the other Viper goals, while Garrett Milan scored both Penticton goals on the powerplay. Penticton outplayed Vernon all 3rd period but couldn’t beat Hammond for the game tying goal.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=673309

March 10th @ Penticton: Game 4 Vernon wins 7-2

Vernon with one of its best efforts of the season skated away with a convincing 7-2 win after thrashing the Vees. The Vipers lead 2-0 after 20 minutes of play and then punished Penticton in the 2nd with several big checks. The Vipers scored another three goals going up 5-1 after 40 minutes of play and in full control. Vernon would sit back in the final period as the Vees couldn’t solve Andrew Hammond all night. Vernons defence was very strong all night. Mike Collins, Braden Pimm, Kellen Jones, Sahir Gill & Chris Crowell collected two points each. Cory Kane & Rob Short picked up three points each. Andrew Hammond made 37 saves in the victory as the Vipers lead the series 3-1.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=673317

Key Players To Watch:

Vernon:

Sahir Gill 6 pts
Chris Crowell 5 pts
Connor Jones 4 pts

Braden Pimm 5 pts

Kellen Jones 5 pts

Mike Collins 4 pts

Cory Kane 4 pts
Rob Short 3 pts

Cameron Brodie 1 pt

Andrew Hammond 3-1 record-2.17 GAA

Penticton:

Curtis McKenzie 10 pts
Garrett Milan 10 pts
Ryan Johansen 7 pts
Ryan Viselli 7 pts
Max Grassi 7 pts
Brodie Reid 6 pts
Erik Slemp 5 pts
Travis Ouellette 5 pts

Zack Joespher 5 pts

Devon Krogh 2 pts