I was at tonight's Game 4 of the Interior Conference Finals as Vernon tied the series with a 3-2 victory in front of 1,645 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kris Moore
1st Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay just fifty six seconds into the period but Vernon couldnt setup or capitalize after a strong Silverbacks penalty kill. Salmon Arm's penalty kill was very good only allowing Vernon with a single shot on the man advantage. Just as the powerplay expired John Knisley with a great chance from the high slot ripped his shot high and over the goal. Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start as neither team could really muster any offence. Morgan Zulinick tried feeding Brad Reid on a two on one but Reid couldnt connect on the pass. Just shortly after Patrick McGillis down the left wing, ripped a hard shot that missed the goal, McGillis with some hustle jumped on the rebound throwing the puck out front to Marcus Basara who beat Kris Moore at 5:28 giving the Vipers the 1-0 lead. McGillis with the lone assist. Vernon is 5-0 when scoring first in the post season, while Salmon Arm is 0-2 when giving up the first goal in these playoffs. Just seconds later Vernon would get their second powerplay of the night, the Vipers moved the puck around, getting some good shots and chances on a much better powerplay but unable to find the back of the net. Salmon Arm would get their first shot on goal on the penalty kill just about eight minutes into the game. Not alot of scoring chances in a fairly even played period. Salmon Arm would get back to back powerplays but the Vipers penalty kill was good killing off both minors. Kirby Halcrow had to be alert after robbing Jarryd Ten Vannholt at the side of the net, Ten Vannholt was all alone but couldnt get the puck up and over Halcrow after making the big pad save. The Backs fed off back to back powerplays and carried the better of the play in the final few minutes. In the final minute of play Mike Hammond and Brad Reid on a parcial two on one, ended up allowing Reid to get in alone but was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who made a big save keeping the Backs off the board. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 8-6.
2nd Period: Patrick McGillis with some good hustle won the race and battle for the puck off the end boards just a minute into the 2nd period, McGillis fed a wide open Dylan Walchuk who was alone in the slot, but Walchuk missed the net on a great scoring chance. Vernon would then their third man advantage of the game but the Silverbacks penalty kill was very good killing off the minor. Salmon Arm slowly took over the edge in play and outplayed Vernon for most of the middle frame. The Silverbacks using their speed and skill were able to run circles in the Vipers zone, moving the puck well creating some great chances as Vernon was back on their heels. The Vipers would get their fourth man advantage of the night but once again the Backs penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. Just shortly after the penalty kill Paul De Jersey would get inbehind the Vernon defence, putting a nice move around Halcrow but somehow the Vipers goaltender got his arm back keeping the puck out, making a huge save. Salmon Arm with all kinds of sustained pressure deep in the Vernon zone couldnt find the back of the net. The Vipers on the other hand couldnt seem to stop the Silverbacks skill. Vernon would finally get a great chance on an odd man rush, with a three on one the Vipers couldnt get a shot off as back come the Silverbacks, Jarryd Ten Vannholt fed Bryce Gervais who skated in over the Vernon blueline and then ripped a high shot over Kirby Halcrows glove tying the game 1-1 at 11:25 with Ten Vannholt and Cody Michelle picking up the helpers. Halcrow may have been screened on the goal by his own d-man. Just over two minutes later Salmon Arm would get a shot on the man advantage, Jayson Reardon would step into one from the point beating Halcrow but rang his shot off the post as the Vipers penalty kill killed off the minor. Mike Hammond with a chance in front was stopped by Halcrow. Hammond who had two or three chances was all over the ice for the Silverbacks. Just after the powerplay Charlie Vasaturo setup Bryce Gervais for his second of the night after he got inbehind the Viper defence and beat Kirby Halcrow on the parcial breakaway at 16:07 giving the Backs a 2-1 lead and their first of the night as the Sunwave Centre erupted. Vasaturo with the only assist. After a very well played 1st period the Vipers were being outplayed, outhit and beat to the puck through out the second period. Salmon Arm really started using the body laying out some of the biggest checks of the night in the middle frame. Just over two minutes after Gervais's goal the Vipers would re group and finally get the play deep in the Salmon Arm zone, setting up Malcolm Lyles point shot that found the back of the net at 18:39 tying the game 2-2. Bryce Kakoske with the only assist. Off the faceoff the Vipers would get the play back in deep in the SA zone, the Vipers tried stuffing the puck between Kris Moore and the goal post, Moore couldnt handle the puck as Vernon product, Trevor Fitzgerald put the puck home at 19:05 giving Vernon a 3-2 lead. Mike Zalewski and Darren Nowick with the assists. In the final seconds Salmon Arm would get a late powerplay but it would be the Vipers aggresive penalty kill that went to work, allowing Dylan Walchuk to come in over the Backs blueline and with time running out the Vipers got off a quick shot that missed the goal, but on the rebound Darren Nowick stuffed the puck past Moore giving Vernon a 4-2 lead with no time remaining on the clock. Right away the Silverbacks complained their was no time remaining on the clock before the puck crossed the line. Both referee's gathered and talked things over calling the goal off as they said the buzzer went before the goal went in as the Backs got lucky only being down 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. Salmon Arm was all over Vernon most of the period but the Silverbacks couldnt burry their chances. David Robinson went into the goal-post hard but seemed to be ok, finishing the period and the game. John Knisley took a shot to the side of the head from Malcolm Lyles, Knisley went straight to the Vipers dressing room and never returned. The Vipers didnt quit scoring two late goals to take the lead heading into the 3rd. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-8.
3rd Period: The Silverbacks started the 3rd on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 2nd period. Off the draw the Vipers would clear the zone before Patrick McGillis with a good burst of speed, won the race to the puck beating the Salmon Arm d-man and Kris Moore, with Moore out of the crease McGillis and the Vipers couldnt get a shot at the open cage on a great chance shorthanded. Still on the powerplay, Salmon Arm moved the puck around setting up Mike Hammond who was all alone at the side of the net but the puck hopped over Hammonds stick as the Vipers got lucky and eventually killed off the penalty. Vernon's penalty killers come up with atleast two big shot blocks. The Silverbacks carried the play early and often but couldnt generate any real good scoring chances before Vernon would head on their final powerplay of the night. The Vipers couldnt capitalize as the Backs killed off the minor. Just shortly after captain, David Killip with a chance in front couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow who made a huge pad-toe save keeping the puck out, and then Halcrow was forced two make two more tough saves with traffic in front. On the play the Silverbacks would get a powerplay but Vernons penalty kill was solid, coming up with a few big blocked shots as Vernon would kill off the man advantage. The Vipers who were sitting back most of the period played very well defensively not giving the Silverbacks alot of time and space. Clinton Atkinson went hard into the end boards with a Viper player and slowly limped off the ice, heading straight for the Salmon Arm dressing room but Atkinson seemed ok and returned to the ice. Salmon Arm who carried most of the play didnt really get alot of chances. The Vipers battled hard and did a great job at shutting down the Silverbacks offence late in the 3rd. Vernon really forced Salmon Arm in the final few minutes making it tough for Kris Moore to leave his crease for the extra man. Moore would eventually get to the bench for the extra attacker but the Backs couldnt get through the neutral zone and in the end Vernon would hang on for the 3-2 victory tying the series 2-2. Not alot of chances as Vernon's defence played very well defensively in the 3rd. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 9-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Dylan Walchuk had a very strong game up front for the Vipers. Walchuk was very good at both ends of the rink, come up with a few good chances. Was dangerous with the puck.
David Robinson played another hard fought game for Vernon. Robinson battled hard and competed all night.
Darren Nowick (1 assist) Played with alot of energy for the second straight game, used his wheels and determination to win battles and races for the puck.
Patrick McGillis (1 assist) Played his second straight solid game up front for the Vipers. McGillis has really come to play in these playoffs, being one of the better and more consistant players. Played with alot of heart and determination tonight, was very good down low and in and around the net. Another Viper who battled and competed hard.
Adam Thompson I thought was Vernon's best defenceman tonight. Really played with alot of confidence, was very good on the blueline.
Kirby Halcrow (19 saves) Didnt have too many tough saves in the Vipers 5-1 victory in Game 3 but was sure tested tonight. Halcrow had a very strong game between the pipes, made some huge saves keeping the Vipers in the contest. One of his biggest saves was robbing Paul De Jersey on the breakaway.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Josh Manson who returned to the Backs lineup tonight didnt really stand out early but played his best and looked his best in the 2nd period with some huge hits. Manson laid out a few of the bigger hits of the night, was very physical.
Brad Reid was very dangerous tonight, had a few good scoring chances but couldnt capitalize.
Bryce Gervais (2 goals) Scored two back to back second period goals to give Salmon Arm their first lead of the night.
Mike Hammond was the Silverbacks best player this evening. Hammond who was all over the ice was very dangerous with and without the puck, had several great chances but again was unable to capitalize on his chances. The Vipers gave Hammond alot of time and space and got lucky he didnt make them pay.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After Saturdays 6-0 loss in Game 2, I said the Vipers have to win both Games 3 & 4 if they want a chance at winning the series. They either come home out of the playoffs going out in four straight or they come home down 3-1 and have a long hill to climb. They needed both wins and they got them with a hard fought 3-2 victory in Game 4 tonight. Vernon is now 6-0 in the post season when scoring first. After last night's pretty convincing 5-1 victory in Game 3, you knew Salmon Arm was going to be better and they were. The Vipers played very well in the opening period but fell apart in the 2nd getting outplayed, outhit and outworked. Vernon allowed the Silverbacks to wheel and deal coming up with some great scoring chances. After giving up two goals in the second it didnt look very good but the Vipers didnt quit, and come back with two late quick goals to re-give them the lead heading into the 3rd. Vernon tightened up in the 3rd and played a very solid defensive game shutting down the Backs. Two big penalty kills as well and the Vipers come home with a very key game 5 Thursday. After losing both games at home last weekend, I would have never guessed Viper fans would be seeing a Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. The Vipers battled and worked hard earning two must wins in Salmon Arm.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Salmon Arm rebounded after a pretty convincing loss in Game 3 and had several great chances to pull out a win in Game 4 but like the Vipers in Game 1 the Silverbacks couldnt burry their chances. I thought SA played a much better game tonight, played very physical, really used their skill getting some great chances and looked much better on the penalty kill. The Silverbacks are now 0-2 when giving up the first goal in the playoffs. Salmon Arm has also dropped back to back games in the playoffs for the first time. Neither team has won on home ice in this series. The Backs had the Vipers on their heels for most of the 2nd but giving up back to back late goals to end the middle frame has to hurt. After some pretty small crowds for the Vernon-Salmon Arm games during the regular season, nice to see almost a full house at the last two home games. This was a very good hockey game as both teams had chances to win.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Phillip Patenaude (Injured)
Dane Muench (Injured)
Colton Sparrow
Salmon Arm:
Justin Elliott
Josh McKissock
Brandon Mistal
3 Stars:
1st Star: Dylan Walchuk
2nd Star: Josh Manson
3rd Star: David Robinson
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=935594&link=bchl
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