Silverbacks Survive Viper Rally:

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Silverbacks survive Viper rally

by Viper staff | Added 2011-02-10

A spirited Vernon Viper rally came up short in Salmon Arm as the Silverbacks prevailed, 5-4.

The ‘Backs were out-chanced 19-15 in the game, but they were better able to take advantage of their chances. They led 5-1 going into the third period and looked to be in cruise control, but the Vipers fired three goals on the final frame to create an exciting finish.

As they often do against their North Okanagan rivals, the ‘Backs jumped ahead early in the first period. At 3:55, Brett Knowles went to the Viper crease and banged a puck past Kirby Halcrow after Killip and Manson had won a puck battle along the boards.

Playing with the confidence gained from scoring in bunches during their current winning streak, the ‘Backs controlled the neutral zone in the period, throttling Viper rushes and coming into the Viper zone with numbers.

After a turnover at the red line, Mike Hammond found himself alone with Halcrow, but the big goalie robbed the BCHL’s top point getter with an extended left pad. The Vipers were unable to clear, however, and Hammond responded by rifling a pass off the right boards and Brad Reid tipped it in at 18:28.

The Vipers started the second period with increased vigour, which paid off with an unassisted Kyle Murphy goal 35 seconds into the period. Goalie Kris Moore had trouble with a shoot in and Murphy was there to capitalize.

Shortly afterward, Bryce Kakoske made two swooping moves inside the Salmon Arm line and wristed a screamer that hit the underside of the cross bar. The puck bounced straight down and somehow stayed out of the net.

Within a minute, Devin Gannon restored the two-goal lead after his line mates created a turnover at centre ice. Gannon stepped across the Viper line and ripped a shot over Halcrow’s glove.

Another neutral zone turnover set Bryce Gervais free on the left wing and he beat Halcrow high on the short side from 30 feet at 6:10.

At 16:50, Halcrow was penalized four minutes for butt ending when the knob end of his goal stick caught Mike Hammond, who was cruising through the crease.

The Vipers nearly killed the double minor, but Brad Reid’s point shot through traffic caught the top corner at 19:15.

It looked like the Vipers were soundly beaten, especially when the home team started the third period by continuing to thwart the visitors in the neutral zone.

However, a Josh Manson double minor for high sticking gave the Vipers a chance to score, which resulted in Dylan Walchuk’s deflection of Max Mowat’s point shot at 9:33.

Energized, the Vipers started to roll and the Silverbacks lost their dominance of the neutral zone. In wave after wave, the Vipers stormed the Salmon Arm end.

Jumping into the play, Malcolm Lyles made the score 5-3 at 12:42. One of four Vipers to rush into the offensive zone, Lyles found a loose puck and swept a low shot past Moore, on the stick side.

Kyle Murphy and Marcus Basara assisted in that goal, and again on Max Mowat’s goal at 16:33. David Robinson set an active screen in front of Moore, who did not react to Mowat’s point shot that dislodged the water bottle behind Moore.

Down one goal, the Vipers continued to exert pressure, but were unable to score despite several chances, especially when the Vipers pulled goalie Blake Voth with a minute remaining. (Voth played the third period.)

In the final analysis, two factors decided this contest: Salmon Arm’s creation of turnovers in the neutral zone and sharpshooting by Brad Reid, Devin Gannon, and Bryce Gervais.

Notes:

• In the season series, the Silverbacks won 7 of 8 games.

• The Silverbacks have outscored the opposition 45-19 during their current seven-game winning streak.

• The Vipers had their winning streak stopped at five games. Their last loss was to Salmon Arm, the only team to defeat Vernon in the past 12 Viper games.

• Hammond’s two assists ran his points total to 85, which leads the BCHL. He has registered 8 goals and 11 assists in the 11 games he’s played for the Silverbacks since joining them at the trading deadline.

• Three Salmon Arm players did not dress: Jarryd TenVaanholt (injury), Charlie Vasaturo (suspension), and Josh McKissock (healthy scratch.)

• The injured Mike Zalewski and Ryan Renz and the healthy Colton Sparrow sat for Vernon.