Was at last nights Game 1 of the Interior Conference Finals as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-2 in Overtime in front of 3,003 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
1st Period: The Silverbacks come out with good jump having the better of the play in the early goings of the period. The Backs would get the first powerplay, moving the puck well getting some chances early. Brent Vandenberg couldn't connect on a crease pass on Salmon Arms best scoring chance in front. The Vipers didnt seem to have their legs going as the Silverbacks were laying the body on the Vipers, really going after Vernons top line of Sahir Gill, Connor & Kellen Jones. Salmon Arm really shutdown the Vipers top line all night. Salmon Arm carried the better of the play in the first half as Vernon couldnt generate any offence or even get any shots on goal. Vernon would get their first man advantage and struggle in the early goings, with some poor decisions and passes before Captain Chris Crowell would beat Bryan Gillis on the powerplay at 9:56 scoring on the Vipers first shot on goal. Assists went to Adam Thompson & Mike Collins. Collins with the pass over to Crowell for the goal. This goal seemed to give the Vipers life and turned the tables for the next several minutes as Vernon stepped up their play, finally getting some chances in the Backs zone. The Vipers started skating, really putting some good presure on the Silverbacks but couldnt get any shots towards Gillis. After some good presure the Vipers could only muster two shots on goal. Mark Zengerle & Conor Morrison went in two on one, Zengerle made the pass over to Morrison who missed the net on a weak shot. Mark Zengerle with a good chance from the slot but Andrew Hammond made the save. Late in the period Vernons defence had all kinds of troubles clearing the zone, coughing up the puck several times. Max Grassi with a quick shot from the point just about found its way through a maze of players. Vernon was lucky to excape the period after being outplayed, outhit and outworked for most of the period but were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 10-3.
2nd Period: Salmon Arm come out of the gates with the early presure before going on the penalty kill. The Vipers with an early powerplay once again struggled looking very sloppy with the man advantage. Vernon would get two great chances, Kyle Bigos with a screened shot from the point was robbed by Bryan Gillis with a huge glove save & then Cory Kane cut towards the goal, but couldnt slide the puck under Gillis who shut the door. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. The Backs controlled most of the 2nd period with the better of the play getting lots of odd man rushes, many chances in close and once again played physical outchecking the Vipers. Mitch Chapman took a huge run towards Rob Short who was without the puck, Chapman either went knee on knee or took Shorts legs out from under him on a dirty hit along the boards. Short went down and didnt get back up for several minutes before being helped off the ice. Short went directly to the Vernon dressing room. Short would return to the bench late in the 2nd and did see some icetime. Short wasnt skating with full strides, as his one leg looked to be bothering him. Travis Briard with a nice move around a Vernon d-man, made a nice pass through the crease where Justin Cseter was robbed by Hammond at the side of the net. The Vipers couldnt generate much of an offensive attack for the second straight period. The Vipers d-men were caught off gaurd after Brent Vandenberg went in all alone on the breakaway, before Kevin Kraus hustled back into the play, breaking up Vandenberg on the breakaway on a solid defensive effort. The Silverbacks looked very good in the middle frame putting up all kinds of presure in the Vernon zone. Zac Rasmussen was stopped by Hammond in close. Give the Silverbacks full credit, their defence played a solid game on the backend really shutting down Vernons top line, not giving them any room to get that cycle going down low. The Vipers best line of Ryan Santana, James Kerr & Cole Ikkala did manage to get some offence going but couldnt find the back of the net. Santana showed alot of hustle working hard all game. Late in the period Bobby Lipsett was left all alone in front, beating Andrew Hammond at 16:36 tying the game 1-1. Assists going to, Travis Briard who did all the work to setup the game tying goal. Salmon Arm had many chances and were by far the better of the two teams and could have been up 4-1 but were tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 15-10.
3rd Period: Salmon Arm once again controlled the early play with some good puck movement but no real good chances. The Silverbacks had the better of the play for most of the first half before Vernon finally woke up and played their best period of hockey in the second half of the 3rd. Sahir Gill was stopped by Gillis at the side of the net after a great Vernon scoring chance. Colin Lidster & Matt Wray went in two on one, Lidtser made the pass over to Wray who couldnt connect on the pass. Justin Cseter was stopped by Hammond after a quick shot from the circle. Vernons top line of Gill and the Jones Twins did finally manage to create some chances in close. Travis Briard with a shot from the slot hit the post after beating Hammond. Salmon Arm was really forcing the play, this giving the Vipers all kinds of troubles breaking out of their own end. Both teams went back and forth with some good chances as the play seemed to open up. Rob Short with basically one leg put a nice move around a Backs d-man, cut towards the goal and was stopped by Gillis twice in front. Cory Kane then with some nice moves had a chance but couldnt beat Gillis. A long shot from just past centre took a funny bounce off the end boards, as the puck come shooting back out front, with Andrew Hammond inbehind the Vipers net as no Salmon Arm players were in front to hit the empty net, Backs come close there. After a breakdown in the Silverbacks zone on a Viper dump in, Mike Collins cut towards the slot, getting a shot off before Chris Crowell tipped the puck past Gillis putting Vernon up 2-1 at 16:14 Collins & Kevin Kraus collected the assists. But just under 40 seconds later superpest Zac Rasmussen would spin and fire beating wich looked like a screened Hammond tying the game 2-2 at 16:52 as Rasmussen tugging on his jersey sliding across the ice, like a young Theo Fleury did back after beating the Oilers in OT. Matt Wray with the lone assist. The Silverbacks poured on the presure in the final few minutes, Max Grassi with a quick shot from the slot just about found its way through to the back of the net, with a mad scramble in front the Backs nearly come close to ending the game with some wacks at the loose puck in front of Andrew Hammond. The game was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 13-11 in a much more evened period.
Overtime: Connor & Kellen Jones went in on a parcial two on one but couldnt connect on the pass as the play was broken up. Braden Pimm and Chris Crowell with a two on one had the Vipers best scoring chance shortly after, Pimm wound up with a big blast from the circle, as Gillis made a nice blocker save. A few weak looking shots from the point kinda handcuffed Hammond as the veteran goaltender had troubles controlling the rebounds. Matt Wrays shot would be tipped by Zac Rasmussen at 6:24 of the extra period wich beat Hammond as the Backs bench poured onto the ice in a huge celebration as Salmon Arm takes Game 1 3-2 in Overtime, taking the 1-0 series lead. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 4-2.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Ryan Santana, James Kerr & Cole Ikkala was Vernons best and most effective line. Santana with lots of hustle and nice moves worked hard all game. Cole Ikkala played physical, had some chances and worked hard. Captain Chris Crowell (2 goals) played a physical game, looked good up front. Crowell was in and around the net most of the game, getting some good chances.
Cory Kane played a good game for Vernon. Was skating well all night, really played with lots of energy, put a few nice moves on a few Salmon Arm players. Come close to scoring on a few chances.
Rob Short played well, especially after taking the Chapman hit. Short basically played the end of the 2nd and the 3rd on one leg, played with alot of heart and determination, looking good in the 3rd period. Lets hope Robbie is ok and good to go for tonight.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
The line of Matt Wray (2 assists), Colin Lidster (1 assist) and Zac Rasmussen (2 goals) looked very solid all night. Wray was in the face of several Vipers especially in the 1st period, laid out some big checks. Was chirpping with the Vernon bench after each linechange. Lidster one of the bigger kids in the league, was very tough to knock around and fight off the puck. With a full Playoff bear going, looked like a growen man, played physical. What can you say about superpest Zac Rasmussen, always plays well against the Vipers. Rasmussen scored the two biggest goals of the night. Looked very good all night, was getting under the skin of many Vipers for most of the night.
Brent Vandenberg played well up front. Had a great chance in the 2nd period on a breakaway but was denied after Kevin Kraus showed some good hustle getting back into the play, to breakup the breakaway. Vandenberg had a few chances around the net.
Travis Briard impressed me alot tonight. Looked very good for most of tonights game. Had a great chance to get the winner in the 3rd but hit the post. Briard looked good and was deadly around the net. Justin Cseter another forward who plays well against Vernon. Good skater, gets involved in the play.
Bobby Lipsett (1 goal) A local boy who is another Backs player who plays well against the Vipers. Scored a big goal late in the 2nd to tie the game 1-1. Lipsett was very impressive in Game 1.
Travis Statchuk had some chances and looked fairly good up front. Very nice skater who can handle the puck well.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Vernon has now lost both Game 1's in OT in these BCHL Playoffs. The Vipers didnt look good for most of tonights game. Were very lucky to be up 1-0 after the 1st after being outplayed and outhit for most of the period. Getting just three shots on goal in the opening period wont win you hockey games. Vernon gave up way too many odd man rushes in the 2nd period and could have easily been down 4-1 after 40 minutes of play but were lucky to be tied 1-1. A very poor looking 2nd once again getting outhit, outworked and lost many of the one on one battles. A much better performance and effort in the 3rd but should have never allowed the Backs to get the game tying goal seconds after taking the lead. The Vipers need to be more physical against a strong skating team like Salmon Arm, they also need to get more shots towards the net with traffic in front of Gillis. Vernons top line was shutdown all night, was punished hard into the boards on almost every shift. This line is going to have to find a way to get around the adversity. I cant remember the last game Vernon was outshot this bad. Usally the shots are the other way around. Vernon only had a handfull of chances, needs a full 60 minute effort tonight, if they expect to beat Salmon Arm. Alot of guys didnt look good for the Vipers last night. Not faulting Andrew Hammond but he seemed to have troubles with his rebounds and puck control on the long shots.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
The Silverbacks come to play tonight and it showed. Salmon Arm had good jump all night, was really skating hard, this was the first time all season where I have seen the Backs play this physical and keep it up for the full game. Salmon Arm did an excellent job at shutting down the Vipers top line of Gill and the Jones Twins. Really laid the body on them, giving them no time or space to get that cycle going, there so good at. Give full credit to the Backs defence for shutting down the Vipers offence, keeping the Vipers to under 30 shots, blocking the shooting lanes and not giving up any second chances. Bryan Gillis didnt see much action but played well when needed too. Salmon Arm did a great job at clogging up the neutral zone, as the Vipers had all kinds of troubles getting pucks through the zone and on net. The Backs really forced the play, for most of tonights game, causing all kinds of trouble on the Vernon breakout. This team has a very good transition game as well. Very well coached, like I said before a very strong skating team with lots of offensive wepons and a strong backend. Great to see a big Salmon Arm crowd, wich made a ton of noise all night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Nick Amies
Steven Weinstein
Kory Roy
Salmon Arm:
Mike Puddifant
Levi Hantula
Christopher Hoe
3 Stars:
1st Star: Zac Rasmussen (2 goals)
2nd Star: Chris Crowell (2 goals)
3rd Star: Bobby Lipsett (1 goal)
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