I was at todays BCHL game as Prince George defeated Vernon 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,599 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Bryton Udy
Prince George: Kirk Thompson
1st Period: The Vipers started this afternoons game right from where they left off against the Quesnel Millionaires last night. In the opening minutes John Knisley fed Aaron Hadley on a odd man rush but Hadley couldnt hit the net on a good early scoring chance for the Vipers. Vernon would get the games first powerplay just minutes into the game but Kirk Thompson was sharp as PG killed off the minor. The Vipers looked very good in the 1st period controlling the better of the play getting some good chances. Marcus Basara snapped a quick shot from the wing but Thompson was their just getting his glove on it. Steve Weinstein with a good rush up ice, carried the puck over the blueline and then wired a wicked shot that beat Thompson but went off the crossbar. Vernon was all over PG at this point outshooting the Spruce Kings 9-0 at the midway mark. David Robinson with two good chances in front, was stoned by Thompson on the second save after making a huge pad save on the Vipers captain. Prince George would finally get their first shot on goal with aboput seven or eight minutes remaining in the opening period. Jujhar Khaira with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Bryton Udy. The Spruce Kings only real good scoring chance came after Riley Spraggs caught the Vipers on a bad line change, Spraggs would go in all alone but couldnt beat Udy on the breakaway, on the same play the Spruce Kings kept control of the puck getting it back to Stephen Ryan who come around the net and with traffic in front snapped a quick shot that was stopped by Udy. The Spruce Kings with a little flurry of action in the Vipers zone couldnt capitalize. This was all PG would muster for offence in the period. The Vipers with a few nice give and goes down low couldnt capitalize on their chances. Kirk Thompson was the difference keeping the Spruce Kings in the hockey game as it was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Prince George 19-7.
2nd Period: Mike Zalewski with three nice moves in close couldnt pull the trigger from the slot after having his stick tied up on a great chance in the opening minute. Both teams started out a little slow before the Spruce Kings slowly started to find their mark. Four minutes into the 2nd PG started to get things rolling finally getting some presure in the Vipers zone. Bryton Udy had to be sharp making some tough saves with traffic in front. Vernon on a few occasions had troubles in their own end as PG was buzzing. Udy looked very good with his glove in the middle frame making atleast two or three glove saves. The Vipers would get a great chance to open the scoring, after Gus Correale showed some good work in and around the Spruce Kings net, finding and getting the puck out front for Trevor Fitzgerald who somehow missed hitting a wide open net as Thompson was down and out as the puck went through the crease. After some good presure by Prince George Aaron Hadley wearing Dean Strongs old jersey #14 beat Thompson at 10:16 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. John Knisley and Mike Zalewski picked up the helpers. The Vipers didnt quit coming right back at PG, just over two minutes later Dylan Walchuk with another highlight real goal from in close put a real nice move on Thompson giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 12:39, Marcus Basara and Malcolm Lyles with the assists. Just over a minute later Stephen Ryan would get hooked by Brett Corkey while on a parcial breakaway, Ryan couldnt get off a great shot that was stopped by Udy, this giving Prince George their first powerplay of the afternoon. The Spruce Kings couldnt get much going on the man advantage until just as the minor expired Zac Ashdown fed captain RJay Berra in front, but the puck went in off a Vipers skate and past Udy getting PG on the board at 15:22, Berra was credited with the goal and Ashdown with the lone assist. Just a few minutes later a PG player fell ontop of the puck with nobody around, Malcolm Lyles skated over and jabbed his stick under the PG player trying to get the loose puck, but Lyles was given four minutes for spearing. As captain David Robinson tried talking to refere Kris Hartley, Robinson was given two minutes for Unsportsmanlike conduct, this giving the Spruce Kings a two man advantage. This could be the games turning point. The Vipers penalty kill did fairly well killing off Robinsons minor before veteran d-man, Justin Fillion beat Udy at 18:59 tying the game 2-2. Trent Murdoch would get the only assist. The Spruce Kings who had now battled back down two goals still with time on the man advantage. PG would run out of time as the period would come to an end with the score tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. This was a more even played period. The Spruce Kings outshot the Vipers 18-14.
3rd Period: Prince George would start the 3rd with 2:14 remaining in Malcolm Lyles penalty. The Vipers penalty kill was very good giving up just a single shot killing off Lyles double minor. Not much action to start the 3rd with both teams not really generating alot of offence. Not much flow in the first half of the 3rd as both teams now playing their third game in three days started to look a little tired. The Vipers just couldnt seem to connect on their passes, looking a little disorganized in the early going. Vernon would get the only powerplay of the 3rd just four minutes into the period but wouldnt generate any real good chances. With just seconds left in the minor David Robinson who was in front, couldnt connect on the pass as the Spruce Kings would hold the Vipers to 0 shots on the powerplay looking good on the penalty kill. With seven minutes remaining the Vipers would get their first shot of the period after being outshot at this point 3-0. David Robinson in front couldnt connect on another pass that come through the crease. Vernon finally started to get some presure deep in the PG zone and would control the play for the remainder of the game. You could see the Spruce Kings were just hanging on, hoping to pick up atleast a point in overtime icing the play as often as possible. Darren Nowick with a quick snap shot from the corner just whistled his shot past the far corner missing the net. Vernon with some good presure battled hard down low to create some good chances but couldnt find the back of the net. With just 1:22 left in the 3rd Bryce Kakoskes shot from the slot was stopped after Kirk Thompson robbed Kakoske with a big glove save. PG would hang on and hold off the Vipers in the final seven minutes forcing overtime. Vernon outshot Prince George 7-5.
Overtime: Bryce Kakoske with a great chance to win the game was stopped after Thompson made a quick routine glove save. The Spruce Kings would get a odd man rush (I didnt see any of the players numbers) but a nice two way passing play setup a little give and go in close as a PG player was stopped by Udy. On the play Mike Zalewski was forced to take a hooking penalty. Prince George would call a timeout. With the faceoff in the Vernon zone, PG would win the draw before Zac Ashdown went hard to the net and slide the puck under Bryton Udy as the PG bench erupted giving the Spruce Kings a 3-2 ot win. Prince George outshot Vernon 2-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey I thought played a very solid defensive game on the Vernon blueline.
Steve Weinstein was another Viper d-man that played a strong game. Weinstein with a good rush up ice in the 1st period wired a lazer of a shot that went off the crossbar.
Dylan Walchuk (1 goal) Walchuk for the second straight night scored a highlight real goal. This kid has some very soft hands, made some unreal plays in both games last night and again this afternoon.
David Robinson worked extremely hard, coming up with some good chances but just couldnt connect on some of the passes.
Aaron Hadley (1 goal) For the second straight night I thought Aaron Hadley played very well. Had a few good hits this afternoon.
Bryce Kakoske played very well this afternoon. I have been very impressed with Bryce's play this year, hes lost alot of weight, getting lots of icetime and playing with more of a role this year. Is also very hard to knock off the puck. Had a few good chances tonight.
Bryton Udy (29 saves) Udy made his third start of the season today and has yet to come up with his first career BCHL win. Udy who made 29 saves played very well between the pipes for Vernon. Didnt see much action in the 1st and 3rd periods but faced 18 shots in the 2nd making some tough saves early. Udy looked good with his glove, seemed a little more comfortable this afternoon, over his two previous starts.
Top Players: (Prince George)
Justin Fillion (1 goal) Scored the games tying goal on the powerplay to force overtime. Fillion played a solid game on the PG backend.
Zac Ashdown (Overtime winner and 1 assist) Was one of if not the Spruce Kings best player.
Kirk Thompson (39 saves) Thompson made his second start vs the Vipers this season. Thompson made 34 saves in a 6-0 loss to Vernon back on September 26th. Thompson was the difference this afternoon, this kid kept PG in todays hockey game, especially in the opening period. Vernon with 19 1st period shots could have easily been up by two or three goals if it wasnt for the Spruce Kings goaltender.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought the Vipers played well enough to win but didnt play as well as they did the past two nights (wins over Penticton & Quesnel) Like I said before if it wasnt for Kirk Thompson the Vipers should have walked away with a victory today. But this is why they play the game. I thought Vernon played and looked very good in the opening period and then got a little sloppy at times in the 2nd. You could say the games turning point was when the Spruce Kings were given a two man advantage late in the 2nd on two calls I disagree with. (A) Malcolm Lyles was going for the puck after a PG player had fallen on the loose puck with nobody around, and didnt attempt to get off the puck. (B) How does David Robinson, the Vipers captain get an Unsportsmanlike penalty when he tries talking with Kris Hartley? Robinson wasnt yelling and screaming at the referee, but looked to be asking him about the Lyles penalty, inwich he was given his minor. You could see the Vipers looked a little tired in the 3rd as their wasnt much flow or offence in the first half of the period, the Vipers didnt record their first shot on goal until with about seven minutes left in the period. I thought Vernon did battle hard and put some good presure on the Spruce Kings in the final seven minutes. After watching both Friday and Saturdays games I didnt think the Vipers battled as hard this afternoon, nor did they go to the net as much, I think a little more net presence and playing in the grey area may have gotten them a goal or even a rebound for a shot at a goal. I also didnt think Vernon played as physical as they did in both Friday and Saturdays games, they went finishing their checks like they did vs Penticton & Quesnel. This was the Vipers second loss to the Spruce Kings this season. The Vipers have five regulation losses, one tie and three overtime loses. Four of those loses have come to some of the leagues bottom feeders. (Merrit, Cowichan Valley and now PG twice)
Game Thoughts: (Prince George)
Here's a game where I dont think PG had any business being in, but give them credit they battled back to come back down two goals and managed to hang on in the 3rd period and pull out just the teams third win of the season. Prince George was badly outplayed in the opening period but come out in the 2nd and played a much better period, getting some presure and good chances on the Vipers. In the 3rd you could also see the Spruce Kings were a tired hockey club, just trying to hold on to a tie to try and force overtime. PG's powerplay looked good going 2-4 with one of their goals going in just a second or two after a powerplay. The Spruce Kings scored on their chances and won all three draws in overtime. Prince George snapped a eight game losing streak and picks up its first win in Vernon since (2008-09), a 3-1 victory back on September 13th.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Elliott Richardson
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Todd Skirving
Prince George:
Luke Hannas
Jeff Earnest
Bennett Hambrook
3 Stars:
1st Star: Zac Ashdown (Scored OT winner & collected 1 assist)
2nd Star: Kirk Thompson (39 saves)
3rd Star: Bryton Udy (29 saves)
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