I was at tonight's BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-2 in double overtime in front of 3,015 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kris Moore
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start and took it too the Silverbacks early and often. Steve Weinstein stepped over the Backs blueline and ripped a hard shot just 23 seconds into the hockey game, that seemed to give Salmon Arm starting goaltender, Kris Moore problems. Moore made the pad save but the puck caught the inside of his pads as the puck fell before Moore had to be sharp and cover up the loose puck to stop the play. Vernon was waisting very little time getting shots on Moore, as the Vipers were firing pucks towards Moore on any chance they got. The Vipers were skating, moving the puck well and making nice crisp passes early and often. Vernon was all over Salmon Arm early and for most of the opening period as the Silverbacks couldnt get anything going. Salmon Arm seemed to be back on their heels a bit and wernt skating, as the Vipers were winning the battles, races for the pucks and getting several shots on goal. Vernon was up 5-0 in shots, before Salmon Arm wouldnt get their first shot on goal until the twelve minute mark. Max Mowat's point shot was tipped in front as Aaron Hadley couldnt bury the puck past Kris Moore. But on the same play the Vipers worked hard keeping the play in the Backs zone, Darren Nowick setup Hadley at 10:01 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Nowick and Max Mowat collected the assists. The Vipers were all over the Silverbacks but how many times have we seen this all season, Vernon couldnt put Salmon Arm away and allowed the Backs to tie the game late. Lumby product Jayson Reardon made a nice head's up play feeding Jarryd Ten Vannholt who fed Bryce Gervais who beat former Quesnel Millionaire Kirby Halcrow who was caught deep in his net as the Silverbacks tied the game 1-1 at 17:36 on just their fourth shot of the game. This goal seemed to give Salmon Arm a little life as the Silverbacks looked a little better in the final two and a half minutes. In the dying seconds a nice heads up pass up through the middle sent Matt Cassidy in on the breakaway, but the buzzer went before Cassidy could even get off a shot. It was all Vernon as the game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 14-6.
2nd Period: The Vipers got off to a bit of a slow start, Vernon quit skating and was caught running around in their own end. The Backs with some good pressure early caught Vernon napping. Brandon Mistal setup Jarryd Ten Vannholt who beat Halcrow at 1:22 giving Salmon Arm their first lead of the night and a big boost to start the middle frame. The Backs didnt quit, once again got the play in deep and forecheck the Vipers down low, Salmon Arm was the ones now moving the puck well, creating chances. It took the Vipers almost four minutes to record their first shot of the period on Kris Moore. The Vipers would take an early penalty, giving the Backs the games first powerplay. Salmon Arm looked a little sluggish to start the man advantage but as the powerplay continued former Coquitlam Express Brad Reid was robbed by Halcrow at the side of the net, this was the Backs only real good scoring chance as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just shortly after Darren Nowick was left all alone in front, but Moore come up with a huge blocker save on the Viper rookie. Just a few minutes later Salmon Arm would head back to the powerplay, the Silverbacks looked much better with the man advantage but couldnt capitalise as Vernon would kill off the powerplay. Salmon Arm was by far the better of the two teams, winning all the battles & races for the puck giving the Vipers defence all kinds of trouble in their own end. At 13:23 with a scramble in front of Kris Moore, Marcus Basara found the loose puck and beat wich looked to be a screened Moore tying the game 2-2. Bryce Kakoske and Kyle Murphy with the helpers. Off the draw back come Salmon Arm, getting the play in deep as the Silverbacks had two great chances in close both tipped in front but couldnt get the bounce to go in. The Vipers a bit back on their heels were once again caught running around in their own end, as the Backs come back with a few good solid shifts after giving up the game tying goal. Vernon played a little better in the final five minutes but that was it. Salmon Arm was the better of the teams but it was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Backs outshot the Vipers 13-7.
3rd Period: The Vipers would win the draw and just twenty nine seconds into the 3rd Mike Zalewski stepped over the Silverbacks blueline, ripping a low shot from just outside the circle that beat Moore but hit the post as Vernon come very close to grabing the lead. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night early, Salmon Arm's penalty kill was very good as the Backs challenged the Vipers blocking the shooting lanes, not giving Vernon any time or space on the powerplay. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Brandon Mistal with a great chance, got off a quick low shot just inside the Vernon zone but Kirby Halcrow had to be alert making a pad save. Salmon Arm would then get a powerplay but unable to score as the Vipers killed off the minor. Both teams went back and forth as the play was fairly even at times in the 3rd. The Vipers slowly started to come along as the period went on, looking much better compared to the 2nd period. I thought the Vipers took the lead on a weird bounce, Todd Skirving carried the play in over the Silverbacks zone, got off a shot but the puck hit someone or something in front going high up into the air before coming down towards the goal. Kris Moore with his arm-glove in the air kept backing up as the puck went up and over the Silverbacks net, on the play it had looked like the puck went up and over and inbehind Moore on a bit of a weird play. The Vipers would carry the play for a few good minutes but couldnt generate much offence. Devin Gannon with a chance at the side of the net couldnt beat Halcrow. The Vipers would get another shot at the powerplay but would struggle as the Backs penalty kill looked very good killing off the minor. With six minutes remaining Dylan Walchuk with two great chances at the side of the net was stoned by Moore who made two huge back to back pad saves off the Viper forward. Vernon would get its third straight powerplay but once again fail to put away the Silverbacks. The Vipers moved the puck around but only managed to get two shots on goal as the Silverbacks would kill off the minor. With a minute and a half remaining, Devin Gannon would redirect the point shot and then couldnt bury the rebound after the Backs forward had Halcrow beat down low on a great chance. The game was still tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-7.
Overtime: Vernon would get a great chance to end the game with their fourth straight powerplay. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage all night and again in overtime. Vernon moved the puck around and around, waisting most of the clock but were unable to get any real good shots or chances as Salmon Arms penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. The Silverbacks with the only real good scoring chance, had a parcial two on one, before Brett Corkey hustled back into the play to break up the odd man rush, Brad Reid was still able to keep the puck and get off a quick shot from the circle but it wasnt good enough to beat Kirby Halcrow. The Silverbacks looked very good on the draw in the extra period. Both teams with not alot of room to find a way to score the game winner. It was still tied 2-2 after 65 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 4-3.
Double Overtime: Salmon Arm again was very strong in the faceoff department winning all the draws in the second ot. The Vipers just about got caught sending two players in deep as Kyle Murphy and Patrick McGillis both jumped up into the play before Salmon Arm come back the other way with the odd man rush sending Brett Knowles and Salmon Arm captain, David Killip in for the two on one, the Vipers would get lucky as the pass was high up off the ice and the Backs couldnt capitalse on the play. Salmon Arm was the better team in double overtime, the Silverbacks were skating, moving the puck well and kept things simple. Steve Weinstein with the Vipers lone chance, carried the puck in over the Salmon Arm blueline before ripping a hard shot but the puck was kicked out by Kris Moore who made the pad save. The Backs would then get the puck in deep before working the puck back to Jayson Reardon who setup Brett Knowles who waited paitently setting up a wide open David Killip who beat Halcrow from his knees at 2:53 giving the Silverbacks the 3-2 double overtime victory, snapping the Backs three game losing streak. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 2-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey played a very strong game on the Vernon blueline. I thought Brett was the Vipers best defenceman tonight. Corkey played very well at both ends of the rink, was skating very well and seemed to be alert making some very strong heads up plays through out the contest.
Darren Nowick (1 assist) I sure enjoy watching Nowick play. This kid is super quick, can skate well, creates lots of scoring chances but couldnt buy a goal for the life of him. Nowick who has just one goal on the season, was one of the Vipers better players tonight. Darren was fyling all night, created chances, played well at both ends of the arena, had a great chance in the 2nd but was stopped by Kris Moore. Played with alot of energy.
Todd Skirving I thought was one of the more physical Vipers tonight. For the second straight night Skirving who basically never went into the corners or battled along the boards at all before the Christmas break, has really changed his style of play and because of this, has impressed me in back to back games. Skirving once again battled hard and went into the grey area's tonight. Todd didnt really do too much with the puck or create any highlight real plays but battled and competed hard. I wonder if it's the beard? Very sharp
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Jayson Reardon (2 assists) The Lumby product I thought looked very steady on the Silverbacks blueline. Reardon played very well defensively after Salmon Arm's defence didnt look or play that well last night.
Jarryd Ten Vannholt (1 goal & 1 assist) Ten Vannholt played very well up front for Salmon Arm. Seemed to get involved in the play and scored a key goal late in the opening period wich may have turned the game around.
Devin Gannon I thought played very well for the Backs tonight. Gannon had a few chances but also seemed to be in the faces of the Vernon Vipers, in and after the stopages. Gannon wasnt afraid to get involved after the whistle.
Brandon Mistal (1 assist) Had a few chances, another player that just seemed to be in the right spot at the right time. Skated well, was involved in the play.
Kris Moore (36 saves) Played very well between the pipes for Salmon Arm. Moore who now improves to 3-1 against Vernon this season wasnt overly sharp in last night's 6-3 loss to the Vipers but give the kid credit, he battled back tonight giving his team a chance for the victory. Moore made some good saves and key saves through out the game.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After a huge 6-3 win last night in Salmon Arm, the Vipers looked very strong in the 1st period tonight but were only able to get one on the scoreboard after outplaying Salmon Arm the entire period. The Vipers with chances to go up by two or three goals couldnt and all it took was one shot by Bryce Gervais and the game was tied. Then an early goal to start the 2nd by Jarryd Ten Vannholt gave the Silverbacks their first lead of the night. I dont know what happened between periods but the Vipers didnt look very good in the second period. Vernon was outhit, outworked and outplayed for most of the period. Here's a chance where the Silverbacks could have went up by a goal or two and really put the Vipers in a hole. A fairly even 3rd with both teams playing well. The Vipers with four straight powerplays (three in the third and one in overtime) and they still cant win the game. The Vipers powerplay has struggled all year as it did tonight. Vernon quit skating after the opening period and I didnt think their defence looked nearly as good after last night's strong performance. I also dont think Kirby Halcrow played his best game as a Viper, Halcrow just didnt look sharp to me. The Vipers who looked so good with their puck movement and passing, sure had troubles breaking out and making a pass in the final two periods and into ot. Vernon needs a goal scorer and it showed again tonight. With the loss Vernon did manage to get a single point wich now ties them with Penticton for top spot in the Interior Division. The Vees play tomorrow night at home to Westside before making the trip to Vernon Saturday. Great to see over 3000 fans at the game tonight, one of the biggest crowds in the last two season's.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
You knew the Backs were going to come out with a better effort and performance tonight after not looking-playing very well last night. But after the opening period tonight, I had my doubts. Salmon Arm looked much better in the 2nd and even the 3rd and into overtime. The Silverbacks played well tonight, other then the opening frame and deserved the win. Tonight was a huge win for the Backs, snapping a three game losing streak and getting back to within three points of the Vipers as well as climbing into 3rd place. This was Salmon Arm's first win on the road since November 27th (6-3 victory over Prince George). I really liked the Silverbacks penalty kill, they really forced the Vipers defence to make that quick pass, forcing a turnover or bad pass at the blueline as well as did a great job at keeping the Vipers to the outside. Salmon Arm battled hard tonight, something I didnt think they did enough of last night. Salmon Arm has Vernon's number, improving to 5-1 against the Vipers this year.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Philip Patenaude (Inured)
David Robinson (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Clinton Atkinson (Suspended)
Paul De Jersey
Devin Muller
3 Stars:
1st Star: David Killip (OT winner)
2nd Star: Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Darren Nowick (1 assist)
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