I was at tonights Game 6 of the Doyle Cup as Spruce Grove defeated Vernon 3-2 in front of 2,564 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Spruce Grove: Vince Marozzi
1st Period: In the opening minute Sahir Gill would get behind the Saints defence for the parcial breakaway but was hauled down on a great chance for the Vipers. The Vipers looked good in the opening five or six minutes moving the puck generating some chances. Braden Pimm with a good chance in front was stopped by Vince Marozzi. Dylan Walchuk & Jonathan Milhouse on an odd man rush but Milhouse couldnt get off a good shot as Marozzi made the easy save. Cory Kane on a wrap around with a chance as the puck went through the crease and into the corner. The Vipers with some good early quality chances but couldnt get one past Marozzi. It took Spruce Grove the first six minutes before they even recorded a shot on goal. Shortly after Jordan Draper with a good chance from the side of the net but missed the far corner. Connor Jones looked like he was skating with a bit of a limp, especially in the 1st period. Jones was a little slow getting back into the play at times. The Saints seemed to get their game going as the play slowed down a bit at times with both teams going back and forth. After Vernon's flurry of chances in the first five or six minutes the pace slowed down a little in a very tight checking game. Just like in Game 5 the Saints were really checking the Vipers tight, not giving them any time or space. Other then the Vipers handfull of chances in the opening few minutes, very little chances in the remainder of the period. Spruce Grove would strike first after winning the draw in the Vipers zone the puck come back to the point where Captain Malcolm Tomlinson's point shot hit atleast one maybe two players on it's way to the net, bouncing over Graeme Gordon and into the back of the net giving the Saints a 1-0 lead at 16:06 Liam Darragh & Bryce Van Brabant collecting the assists. Just after the Saints goal Vernon would get the games first powerplay of the night. Braden Pimm with a great chance after being alone in the slot but was stopped by the toe save off Vince Marozzi. Spruce Grove would kill off the minor. Ryan Kerr with two nice moves breaking into the Vernon zone, got in deep and then got a good shot off but was stopped by Graeme Gordon. A fairly evened period with very little chances, lots of whistles made for a bit of a slow period. Spruce Grove was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Saints 12-6.
2nd Period: Sahir Gill with a great chance in front was stoned by Marozzi in the first few minutes on a great chance. The Vipers with some early shots, but most of the shots were coming from the outside as Spruce Grove was keeping the Vipers to the outside, and tying anyone up who was in close. Vince Marozzi had no problem making the saves, as no traffic was in front. Marozzi was seeing all of Vernons shots. Shortly after the Saints back three on one, Jordan Draper, Adam Henderson & Brett Cameron. Cameron's shot beat Gordon but hit the crossbar as the Saints come oh so close to taking a 2-0 lead. Another tight checking period with very little scoring chances. Alot of mugging, holding and interference going on coming from both teams. Tempers started to heat up a little as both teams started yapping back and forth between one another, as well as some pushing and shoving inbetween whistles. David Robinson was doing alot of chirping all game, as was Rob Short as the Vipers looked a little slow and frsutrated at times through out the 2nd period. Vernon would get its second man advantage of the night but come up empty handed as the Saints would kill off the minor. The Saints would then get their first powerplay of the night. Bryce Van Brabant falling down in the slow, managed to get off a shot but couldnt get it past Gordon. Vernon would kill off the minor. Spruce Grove would get a late powerplay, but it was Connor & Kellen Jones who went to work with some unreal passing between the two, Kellen setup a pinching Adam Thompson who wired his shot past Vince Marozzi at 18:18 tying the game 1-1 Both Connor & Kellen Jones with the helpers. Off the draw the Saints would get the puck in over the Vernon blueline and just 17 seconds later re-take the lead at 18:35 on the powerplay after Nate Fleming beat Gordon. Wes McLeod & Brett Cameron with the assists. This was a momentum killer for the Vipers. With seconds ticking down Jonathan Milhouse's shot gave Vince Marozzi trouble after Marozzi was forced to make the big pad save in the dying seconds. A very tight checking period with very little scoring chances. So far it was a very entertaining hockey game to this point. Spruce Grove was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Spruce Grove 11-6.
3rd Period: Just like in Game 5 the Vipers come out flying to start the 3rd getting some real good quality chances early. Braden Pimm was stopped twince in front, Sahir Gill was stopped by Marozzi. David Robinson with a great chance was stopped in close then gathered up his rebound, went around the net and then hit the post on his second chance as the Vipers come close to tying the game. Vernon would get an early powerplay, Connor Jones cut towards the front of the net and was left wide open, Jones got Marozzi to go down, but couldnt raise the puck high and over Marozzi as Marozzi made the big save. Jones had lots of time and looked to have rushed getting off a quick backhand. Spruce Grove would kill off the minor. It was all Vernon as the Vipers were pressing with lots of good pressure. Jonathan Milhouse would show some good wheels and then ripped a high shot just over the top of the net. Vernon would get its second powerplay of the 3rd, the Saints would chip the puck out along the boards as Joshua Lazowski won the foot race, cutting towards the net and then roofed his shot high over Gordon giving the Saints a 3-1 lead at 9:53 Vince Marozzi with the lone assist. Both teams with one shorthanded goal each. This was basically Spruce Grove's one and only real good scoring chance of the entire period. Vernon didnt quit and kept coming, Mile Collins setup Jonathan Milhouse who beat Marozzi fivehole at 12:57 getting the Vipers to within a goal. Collins with the lone assist. Spruce Grove then did a great job at shutting down the Vipers at times, clogging up the offensive zone as Vernon couldnt get much going for a few minutes. Steve Weinstein with a great chance was robbed in the slot after Vince Marozzi made a huge save keeping the Vipers off the board. Mark Ferner would call a time out and get Graeme Gordon to the bench for the extra attacker but the Vipers had troubles getting the puck in deep. In the final minute the Vipers with two or three shots from in close in a body or two in front and just bounced through the crease but into the corner. Braden Pimm won the draw in the final 14 seconds with a shot from the point hit someone in front, another shot bounced towards the net but just missed the far corner as the Vipers come so close to tying the game. The Vipers couldnt get a bounce or much puck in the final two minutes as Spruce Grove has forced a Game 7 with a huge 3-2 victory. At the buzzer some pushing and shoving between both teams in behind the Saints net. Dan Nycholat & Adam Henderson exchanged words and a few punches back and forth as tempers started to heat up even more. The Vipers outshot the Saints 15-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Braden Pimm I thought worked hard, won some key draws and had several good scoring chances.
Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal) I thought played a good 40 minutes. Milhouse didnt really have the room to get his wheels going, but did managed to get some good scoring chances and played well in and around the net.
Adam Thompson (1 goal) I was very impressed with Adam Thompson's play tonight. Scored a real nice shorthanded goal, after jumping up into the play. Played very well defensively as well.
Top Players: (Spruce Grove)
Malcolm Tomlinson (1 goal) The Saints Captain played a very strong game on the Spruce Grove backend. Tomlinson battled hard, competed and didnt give an inch. Saw alot of icetime on the blueline after the scratch of Kodie Curran.
Brett Cameron (1 assist) I was impressed with the play from Brett Cameron. Cameron looked very good for the Saints tonight, had a great chance in the 2nd to give the Saints a 2-0 lead but hit the crossbar on a three on one.
Adam Henderson battled hard all game, didnt back down from anyone, was in the face of several Vipers all night.
Jordan Draper another kid who played well up front for Spruce Grove. Had a few chances, battled hard.
Vince Marozzi (36 saves-1 assist) For the second straight game Vince Marozzi has stoned the Vipers for most of the night making some huge saves, giving his team a chance to win. Marozzi didnt have much traffic in front of him, so saw most of the Vernon shots. Marozzi come up with a few big saves in the 3rd when the Saints were just up by a goal. Without Marozzi we wouldnt be going to a Game 7.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers battled down to the final seconds but couldnt get any bounces or puck luck for the second straight game. Up until the 3rd period it wasnt much of a hockey game, a very tight checking game with very little chances. Vernon really turned it up a notch in the 3rd but couldnt get the game tying goal past Vince Marozzi. I thought both teams looked a little tired or slow to start the game. Again the Vipers powerplay struggled going 0-5. Vernon cant waist opportunities like this. Giving up the powerplay goal just 17 seconds after tying the game shorthanded was a big momentum killer & turning point. For the second straight game the Vipers have run into a hot goaltender. Vernon needs to get more traffic in front and try and play a little more in the grey area's. The Vipers finally started to get some traffic in front in the 3rd but need to do this the entire game, Marozzi will see and make every save he can with nobody in front. For the second straight game Vernon hasnt had any bounces or puck luck and have no been shutdown by the Saints aggresive forecheck. The Vipers are going to have to try and change things up a little, and somehow get more traffic in front of Marozzi and somehow find a way to beat him. Vernon hasnt been capitalzing on the scoring chances and its coming back to haunt them. The Vipers cant outshoot the other team by half or more shots and lose every night. After coming home with a 2-1 series lead and then taking the 3-1 series lead, I never expected this to go seven games.
Game Thoughts: (Spruce Grove)
For the second straight game the Saints season has been on the line and for the second straight game the Saints have extended their season to another game. Give full credit to Spruce Grove for battling hard, scoring on their chances and finally finding a way to slow down or stop the Vipers top line and offence. Plus not having the likes of key players like Kodie Curran & Scott Allen in the lineup, as well as picking up two must win games on the road. I dont know how this team does it, but give them credit. They dont get alot of scoring chances or control much of the play but seem to score on their chances and then look to Vince Marozzi to shut the door. Spruce Grove has got much better since the first time I saw them play in Game 4 here. The Saints have learned what the Powell River Kings learned and that is how to shutdown and stop the Vipers cycle and forecheck as well as their offence. It took both teams the first three or four games but it works. The Saints the last two games now have done a great job at shutting down the Jones-Gill line as well as Vernons entire offence. The Vipers didnt have much time or space tonight to try and create chances. Spruce Grove battled hard tonight and come up with another hard fought victory. Can they do this for one more game? You have to think Spruce Grove has all the confidence and momentum going into tomorrow's Game 7.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Trevor Fitzgerald (AP)
Patrick McGillis
Spruce Grove:
Kodie Curran
Rory Connop
Tim Nolte
Scott Allen
Brett Switzer (Injured)
Travis Rolheiser
3 Stars:
1st Star: Vince Marozzi (36 saves-1 assist)
2nd Star: Adam Thompson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Malcolm Tomlinson (1 goal)
No comments:
Post a Comment