Vernon 6 Coquitlam 4

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Coquitlam 6-4 in front of 1,716 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Coquitlam: Khaleed Devji

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, getting the play in deep moving the puck around well creating room for Viper captain, David Robinson to walk in from the circle and then rip a low hard shot along the ice but Khaleed Devji made the quick pad save letting out a big rebound. Just shortly after the Express caught the Vipers on a line change, almost sending Justin Georgeson in for the breakaway but Georgeson couldnt connect on the pass. Adam Thompson then coughed up the puck in his own end sending Mike Krgovich in on the two on one, Krgovich with a move in front beat Blake Voth fivehole at 3:14 giving Coquitlam the early 1-0 lead after a bad turnover inside the Vernon zone. Krgovich's goal was unassisted. Just seconds later the Express would jump on the games first powerplay, on the man advantage Gerrick Perry went down awkawrdly behind the Vernon net and didnt get up. Perry was down in pain as the play was stopped. Perry was helped off the ice and didnt return to the game. Coquitlam struggled with the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. The Vipers would then get their first powerplay of the night but with no real good chances, while on the man advantage David Robinson said something to the ref and was given a ten minute misconduct, as the Express killed off the minor. Just after the powerplay Brett Corkey's shot from the point was stopped by Khaleed Devji who made a nice pad save but couldnt stop Vernon product, Colton Sparrow who was going to the net and gobbled up the rebound beat Devji at 8:04 tying the game 1-1. This was Sparrows first career BCHL goal. Corkey and Trevor Fitzgerald with the helpers. On the next play Coquitlam would head back to the powerplay and off the draw Mike Krgovich went hard to the net from the side wall getting two chances in front but Blake Voth made two pad saves keeping the Express off the board. This was the only real good chance the Express could muster as Vernon's penalty kill was very good, killing off the minor. A pretty slow period with not alot of chances at either ends of the rink as Vernon didnt look sharp and seemed to be playing down to the level of the 7th place Express, the Vipers had troubles in their own end. Both teams looked a little scrambly with not much flow in the opening period. The Vipers would get another shot at the man advantage but again come up empty as the game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Express 11-8.

2nd Period: Early into the period Steve Weinstein's point shot was deflected in front beating Khaleed Devji but went off the crossbar on a great chance for Vernon to take a 2-1 lead. Vernon would get an early powerplay and capitalise on a bit of a lucky break. The puck went off a Coquitlam defenceman and come right out front to Darren Nowick who hit the empty net at 3:41 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead. Ryan Renz and Patrick McGillis with the assists. Off the draw back come the Express as Cameron Lawson skated into the slot and ropped a high quick shot just over the net on a great chance to tie the game. Jared Eng then come back with a chance in the slot but was stopped by Voth. The Express with a little jump slowly started to come on putting some good presure on the Vipers before Patrick McGillis come down the right wing and ripped a quick shot past Devji at 8:16 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. McGillis's goal was unassisted. But back come the Express just a few minutes later, Jason Grecica and Jacob Charles on a two on one down low, Grecica kept and shot but couldnt beat Blake Voth from in close who made the tough save. On the next play Riley McIntosh's point shot was tipped in front but somehow Voth made another tough save with traffic in front. Coquitlam with a few good chances couldnt capitalise. Coquitlam's hard work finally would pay off after Jason Grecica banked his shot from behind the Vernon net off Blake Voth at 12:22 cutting the Viper lead to 3-2. Voth had no chance on the goal, as the Viper goaltender was down waiting for the pass to go out front. Mike Krgovich and Cameron Lawson with the helpers. But back come Patrick McGillis on the next shift, this time cutting down the left wing, McGillis waited for Khaleed Devji to go down before roofing his shot over the shoulder of Devji at 13:07. McGillis's goal was unassisted. The Express would then jump on the powerplay but again struggle getting just a single shot as the Vipers penalty kill was very sharp killing off the minor. Vernon would then get a late powerplay and capitalise, Kyle Murphy fed David Robinson who just tapped the puck past Devji at 18:50 giving the Vipers a three goal lead. Murphy and Brett Corkey with the assists. Coquitlam was the better team in the 2nd but Vernon scored on their chances taking a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes of play. Coquitlam outshot Vernon 8-7.

3rd Period: Off the draw the Vipers got the play in deep, Dylan Walchuk setup David Robinson at the side of the net but Khaleed Devji with his biggest save of the night made a huge pad save at the side of the goal robbing the Vernon captain. Robinson didnt quit, grabbing the rebound and then going for the wrap around, with a mad scramble in front of Devji the Vipers battling in front couldnt get the puck past Devji. On the next play back come Cameron Lawson ripping a shot from the slot but couldnt beat Voth. The Vipers would get an early powerplay but could only muster one real good chance as the Express killed off the minor. David Robinson took a good hard check to the head deep in the Coquitlam zone, with no call on the play Robinson slowly skated to the Vernon bench and looked a little weary but would stay in the game. Vernon carried the early edge in the first five or so minutes before Coquitlam would get a powerplay. The Express powerplay unit couldnt get much going as Vernon killed off the minor. Another sloppy and scrambly period by both clubs really slowed down the pace of the game. Dane Muench with a great chance to give Vernon a four goal lead ripped his shot off the crossbar. The Vipers who then went back to the penalty kill couldnt stop the Express. Jason Grecica setup Massimo Lamacchia in front who beat Voth at 12:55 cutting the lead to 5-3. Grecica and Destry Straight picked up the assists. Again the Vipers looked sloppy in their own end, coughing up the puck on several occasions. Vernon just couldnt seem to clear the zone at times. Late in the game Marcus Basara then setup Trevor Fitzgerald who beat Devji but hit the post for the third time tonight. Coquitlam didnt quit, Mark Bergert's point shot somehow got through a ton of traffic in front but Blake Voth made the tough save. The Express kept plugging away and would get another lucky bounce late in the contest. Massimo Lamacchia banked his shot off the back of Blake Voth from behind the Viper net at 18:37 making this a one goal game. Coquitlam would call a timeout and then get Khaleed Devji to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Express couldnt get setup before David Robinson hit the empty cage at 19:24 giving Vernon a 6-4 lead. Bryce Kakoske with the lone assist. The Vipers would end up winning tonight's game 6-4 winning their fifth straight snapping the Express's three game winning streak. Vernon outshot Coquitlam 12-11.

Top Players: (Vernon)

David Robinson (2 goals) The Viper captain with two goals this evening played very well up front. Robinson also looked very strong on the penalty kill and battled hard in and around the net, come up with a few good chances tonight.

Patrick McGillis (2 goals & 1 assist) McGillis was the Vipers best player tonight, for the second straight night looked very good up front, played with alot of jump, showed lots of hustle, was skating hard and had several good chances.

Trevor Fitzgerald (1 assist) Fitzgerald I thought played fairly physical, battled hard and was in and around the net looking for chances. Had a great chance to give Vernon a two goal lead but hit the post late in the game.

Ryan Renz (1 assist) Renz coughed up the puck twice tonight but other then that, I thought the former Alberni Valley Bulldog defenceman played a steady game on the Viper blueline. Renz seemed to play well in his own end (other then the two give aways).

Top Players: (Coquitlam)

Jason Grecica (1 goal & 1 assist) Grecica played very well at both ends of the rink, had a few good scoring chances, was in and around the net as well as read the play well.

Cameron Lawson was one of the Express's better players this evening. Lawson didnt record a point but come up with a few big chances from the slot. A smaller kid who can skate and shoot. Was really skating hard, seemed to always be dangerous with the puck.

Massimo Lamacchia (2 goals) Was another strong forward for the Express tonight. A good skater, good play maker ended up scoring two third period goals to get his club within a goal to make a good finish.

Matthew Hutchinson was Coquitlam's best d-man, played very well defesively. A bigger kid who didnt really give the Vipers any real time or space.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

After last night's hard fought, hard hitting 3-2 victory over the Powell River Kings, you knew the Vipers were going to have troubles coming back with the same type of performance for the second straight night, and especially against the 7th place Coquitlam Express. You had to wonder if Vernon had any gas left in the tank after playing a very physical-emotional game last night. I think tonight the Vipers played down to the same level as the Express, Vernon just didnt look very sharp, had trouble's in their own end. The Vipers really didnt generate alot of real good chances, but did capitalise on some chances and picked up the all important two points. I also think the Vipers didnt want to use alot of energy in tonight's game, when they will need another big performance Tuesday night when the Salmon Arm Silverbacks come to town. Tonight was a pretty slow, dull game at times with both teams looking sloppy and scrambly. Former Vipers defenceman, Josh Reed was at tonight's game.

Game Thoughts: (Coquitlam)

The Express who come into tonights contest riding a three game winning streak, also were coming off a huge 5-3 victory over the hoist Penticton Vees last night. Coquitlam who hasnt played very well on the road gave Vernon a good run in the end. The Express had troubles on the powerplay but played fairly well on the penalty kill. One thing I really liked with this club, they didnt quit and worked hard for their goals. Made for a good finish. For a team that sit's in 7th in the Coastal Conference sure has a lively bench, alot of talking-yelling going on, and players banging sticks etc.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Malcolm Lyles (Suspended)
Zach McPhee
Mike Zalewski

Coquitlam:

Mitchell Deacon
Austin Carroll

3 Stars:

1st Star: Patrick McGillis (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Massimo Lamacchia (2 goals)
3rd Star: Brett Corkey (2 assists)