Kakoske Gets OT Winner For Vipers:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Kakoske gets ot winner for Vipers

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-04-21

In Spruce Grove Thursday night, Bryce Kakoske roofed a rebound past Vincenzo Marozzi 35 seconds into overtime to give the visiting Vernon Vipers a 3-2 win and a 3-2 lead in the Doyle Cup.

Kakoske’s dramatic winner provided the exclamation point on the Viper’s quick strike offence. They also scored at 1:06 of the first period and at 1:05 of the third period. Dylan Walchuk, who continues his fine post season play, registered both goals.

The winner came when Max Mowat knocked down an attempted Spruce Grove clearance and calmly gathered himself before slapping a shot that rebounded high in the air off Marozzi and landed at Kakoske’s feet in the low slot. Not one to turn down a gift, the five-year BCHL veteran promptly golfed the puck under the cross bar.

“It was the best wedge shot I’ve hit in three years,” said Kakoske, a single digit handicapper.

Close Viper checking. Photo: Don KleppDylan Walchuk’s lightning strike in the first period came from the right faceoff dot. His quick shot beat Marozzi through the five-hole after Dane Muench had won a battle along the right boards.

The Saints responded immediately. They won the ensuing faceoff and dumped the puck into the Viper zone. Josh Koper pounced on the puck when a Viper defenceman misplayed it and Koper gave it to Scott Allen, whose low shot beat Kirby Halcrow on the glove side, just 12 seconds after the Walchuk goal.

Three shifts, two shots, and two goals! But then the goalies took over as the Saints created another six scoring chances in the first period and the Vipers fashioned four more.

Halcrow was at his best during a Spruce Grove five-on-three power play. Later he stymied Brett Switzer who got behind the Viper defence while killing a Saint penalty.

Not to be outdone, Marozzi made a huge save on a Marcus Basara breakaway: Basara went high, but Marozzi got his arm on the shot.

The second period featured tight checking that was punctuated by sudden dangerous rushes. Each team had five excellent scoring chances, but neither team could score. Ryan Renz had the best Viper chance when he joined an odd man rush, but Marozzi stacked his pads.

At the other end, Brett Switzer nearly scored when his low shot went through Halcrow’s legs but ticked off the goalie’s left skate and hit the far goal post.

Late in the period, Brent Henke ripped a one-timer from the slot, but Halcrow dived forward to stop and smother the puck.Mike Zalewski flushes out Vinnie Narozzi. Photo: Don Klepp
Late in the period, Nicholas Bourgeois took a hooking penalty that carried over to the third period. With 17 seconds remaining in that power play, Dylan Walchuk came off the left wing and overpowered Marozzi with a wrist shot. Walchuk had been set up by David Robinson, who in turn had received a headmanned pass from goalie Halcrow.

The score remained 2-1 until 10:30, when David Glen converted a Brett Switzer rebound. About five minutes later, Marozzi’s brilliant diving save prevented David Robinson from burying a cross ice pass during a line rush.

However, Marozzi could do nothing about Kakoske’s opportunistic wedge shot, and his Saints will face elimination on Saturday in Spruce Grove.

The Vernon Vipers fashioned a solid defensive effort to defeat the Spruce Grove Saints 3-1 and thus tie the Doyle Cup series at two wins each.

Winning for the third time in four games over the past two years in Spruce Grove, the Vipers scored once in each period, twice on the power play.

Trevor Fitzgerald scored the winner at 9:09 of the second period on a setup by Aaron Hadley. The third member of Vernon’s fourth line, Zach McPhee, started the play by coming down the side wall and knocking the puck free for Hadley.

In Hadley’s words, “I chucked some backhand sauce at Fitzy and he fired ‘er home. Everybody doing his job, you know?”

tempers flare at the end of the game. Photo: Don KleppFitzgerald’s description was somewhat more prosaic: “Aaron made a nice play behind the net and pushed it out front. It went off a defenceman’s skate to me and I just closed my eyes and shot.”

Despite being out shot 14-5 in the first period, the Vipers scored the only goal, at 19:53. With two Saints in the penalty box, Adam Thompson buried a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle. The puck entered the net just inside Vincenzo Marozzi’s right goal post.

Vernon added a second power play marker at 9:12 of the third period when Mike Zalewski slipped the disk between Marozzi’s left skate and the goaltender’s left post. His play followed a salvo of shots by Malcolm Lyles and Steve Weinstein. Marozzi must have felt like he was in s hooting gallery.

The Vipers’ special teams’ proficiency reversed game three’s scenario when the Saints rode three power play goals and strong penalty killing to victory in Vernon on Sunday.

In Wednesday’s game, the Saints had the first two power plays, but were able to penetrate the Viper defence only once. On that occasion, Kirby Halcrow made a sparkling glove save on a one-timed shot.

In the first period, the Saints fired a number of shots from the top of the faceoff circle, apparently trying to force Halcrow into coughing up rebounds. However, the big goalie smartly directed shots to the corner or smothered them.

The Vipers allowed the home team just eight shots and five scoring chances in the final 40 minutes. In the face of the tight Viper checking, the Saints seemed out of synch in the third period.Mike-Zalewski sneaks through the Saints' defence. Photo: Don Klepp
Halcrow lost his shutout with 31 seconds remaining in the game. Brett Switzer notched his second power play marker of the series when his 12-footer sneaked in between Halcrow’s chest and his left arm.

Earlier, Halcrow had robbed Dylan Richard when he dived and used his goal stick to parry Richard’s shot at a half open net.

Surprisingly, the Saints were not nearly as physical as they had been during their two wins in Vernon. They threw only 18 hits while the Vipers registered 26.

The close checking game more closely resembled a chess match than an intense playoff game. Perhaps the playoff grind is beginning to take its toll on both teams. The Vipers were playing their 80th game while the Saints competed in their 77th contest.

Game Notes:

·The Saints lost their first 2011 home playoff game and just their third in regulation all year.

·Kyle Murphy showed no effects of the injury that knocked him out of game three, but Patrick McGillis did not dress because of an injury suffered late in game three.

·The Saints iced the same lineup as in game three.