Penticton 6 Vernon 4

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Penticton defeated Vernon 6-4 in front of 2,757 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Penticton: Michael Garteig

1st Period: A long dump in by the Vipers handcuffed Vees starting goaltender, Michael Garteig who was forced to make a tough save just a minute into the opening period. Penticton carried the early edge in play before getting the games first powerplay of the night. The Vees moved the puck around before setting up a wide open Steven Fogarty who thought he had opened the scoring as the Vees celebrated like they scored with the man advantage but as the Vees were celebrating Kirby Halcrow got up with the puck making a huge save while down and out keeping the puck out. Still with the man advantage the Vees won the draw back to the point Mike Reilly's point shot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow before Halcrow had to make a second pad save keeping the Vipers in the game early. Still on the powerplay Ben Gamache come up with a huge shot block that caught him in the wrist-arm area. Gamache seemed to favor his wrist-hand but stayed in the game. Former Salmon Arm Silverback, Bryce Gervais with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Halcrow and just before the powerplay come to an end Travis St. Denis couldnt connect on a pass through the slot missing a wide open cage as Kirby Halcrow come up with a few big saves as the Vipers killed off the minor. Just past the midway mark the Vipers would get their first powerplay and capitalize. Darren Nowick fed Mike Zalewski down low before Zalewski went across the crease to find Aaron Hadley who beat Michael Garteig at the side of the net to open the scoring at 13:14 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. Zalewski and Nowick collected the helpers. Both teams carried the play at different times but not for very long in a fairly even played period. Mario Lucia in the slot with three and a half minutes remaining was stopped by Halcrow. Halcrow then had to stop Connor Reilly a minute later as the Vees with two good chances late. Penticton with a ton of pressure in the final few minutes. In the final minute of play the Vipers defence tried twice clearing the zone but couldnt as the Vees with some good pressure down low but couldnt get any pucks towards the goal as Vernon was hemmened in their own end until the buzzer. The Vipers with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon didnt get alot of good scoring chances as Penticton had the better scoring opportunities and carried the edge in play at times. The Vees outshot the Vipers 10-7.

2nd Period: The Vees would get their second powerplay of the game just 1:14 into the middle frame. Mario Lucia got through the Vernon defence before going in all alone on the breakaway but couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow. The Vees with some good pressure crashed the net late in the powerplay as a shot from in close beat Halcrow but hit the post. With traffic in front the Vees were unable to get the puck through a scramble of players in and around Kirby Halcrow as the Vipers excaped killing off the minor. A minute after the powerplay Connor Reilly did all the work getting the puck deep into the Vernon zone before setting up Travis St. Denis who fed Vees captain, Logan Johnston who's quick shot from the circle beat Halcrow at 4:22 tying the game 1-1. Reilly and St. Denis with the assists. The Vipers come right back and just under two minutes later Brendan Persley with a nice pass setup Jedd Soleway who beat Michael Garteig on the Vipers first shot of the 2nd, giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at the 6:00 minute mark. Persley and Colton Cyr with the assists. This goal seemed to give Vernon some life as the Vipers come back with several good shifts picking up the physical play the Vipers were really punishing the Vees down low hemming Penticton in their own end. The Vipers with some good pressure had a few good chances in close but missed the net. John Knisley and Mike Zalewski would get a two on one, as Knisley would keep and wire a shot top shelf just under the crossbar beating Garteig at 12:46 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Knisley's goal was unassisted. The Vipers got some bad news as Ben Gamache left the game just past the midway mark and didnt return. Just seconds after Knisley's goal the Vees would get a powerplay and capitalize. Mike Reilly setup Wade Murphy who beat Kirby Halcrow fivehole at 14:42 to cut the lead to within a goal. Reilly with the lone helper. Patrick McGillis come down the left wing and ripped a hard high shot that Michael Garteig just got a peice of with the knob of his goal stick. Penticton would get a late powerplay that would carry over into the 3rd and final period. Vernon was up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. A very entertaining period with both teams playing hard in a fairly even played period with not alot of scoring opportunities. The Vees outshot the Vipers 9-8.

3rd Period: Penticton started the 3rd with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the second period. The Vees moving the puck around setup Joey Benik from the high circle that ripped a hard shot that Kirby Halcrow just got a peice of with his shoulder as the puck rolled through the crease. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the penalty before getting an early powerplay just over a minute into the period. It didnt take the Vipers long to re-gain their two goal lead after Colton Cyr setup Adam Tambellini who beat Michael Garteig at 1:27 giving Vernon a 4-2 lead. Cyr and Patrick McGillis with the assists. Penticton would come right back and really take it too the Vipers. The Vees with so much firepower exploded with three quick goals in just over six minutes to take their first lead of the night. Bryce Gervais setup Zach Urban who beat Kirby Halcrow at 5:10 cutting the lead to within a goal. Gervais with the lone helper. Just over two minutes later Zach Urban setup Bryce Gervais at 7:16 to tie the game as the crowd erupted at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Urban with the only assist. The Vipers couldnt get any offence going as it was all Vees early and often as Penticton with some good pressure just kept pouring it on. Bryce Gervais with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Just past the midway mark Mike Reilly with a nice move cut towards the Vernon goal before going around the net and beat Halcrow on the wrap around giving Penticton a 5-4 lead at 11:36. Reilly's goal was unassisted. The Vees with a huge 3rd period comeback with their first lead of the night. Just shortly after the Vipers setup Adam Tambellini who was open at the side of the net but Michael Garteig come across the crease to make a huge pad save off Tambellini. Just shortly after Brett Corkey collected the puck from his own end and went end to end making some nice moves cutting in and around a few Penticton players before getting off a shot from in close but couldnt beat Garteig. Shortly after Bryce Gervais would get hauled down on a parcial breakaway as Gervais and Marc Hetnik both went into Kirby Halcrow and the Vipers net as Penticton was rewarded a powerplay on the play. Vernon with a very good penalty kill would kill off the penalty. The Vipers running out of time couldnt get the puck through the neutral zone as the Vees with a solid defensive effort in the final two minutes didnt allow Kirby Halcrow a chance to get to the bench for the extra attacker. The Vipers would finally get the play in deep this allowing Halcrow to get to the bench for the extra man with fourty five seconds remaining but Vernon couldnt control the puck as Mike Zalewski couldnt hold off Joey Benik who got around Zalewski for the breakaway hit the empty cage at 19:22 giving the Vees a 6-4 lead and the victory. In the end the Vees were just to strong for the Vipers as Penticton carried most of the play as the Vipers couldnt get much offence going. Penticton outshot Vernon 7-4.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Aaron Hadley (1 goal) Battled and competed very hard for the second straight night. Hadley who has really come on latley played very well up front for the Vipers.

The line of Mike Zalewski (1 assist), Darren Nowick (1 assist) & John Knisley (1 goal) played well for the Vipers. I thought Zalewski and Nowick played well together at times. Nowick was again good on the penalty kill.

Patrick McGillis had atleast two scoring opportunities and come up with a few big plays through out tonight's contest to break up a Vees rush or clear the zone after making that extra effort to dive and clear the puck out of the zone. McGillis worked hard most of the night.

Ryan Renz I thought played very well on the Vernon blueline. Was very steady tonight.

Kirby Halcrow (21 saves) Made some big saves in the opening period keeping his club in the game.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

I really wanted to watch tonight's game due to the fact that if Vernon get's into the playoffs this will be the first round matchup. Give the Vipers credit they battled and played hard for most of the night but just couldnt hold onto the lead in the 3rd period.  Tonight was a very entertaining and playoff like atposphere game.  The Vipers battled hard and gave the Vees a good run for the first two periods.  The Vipers opened the scoring before having two two goal leads but just couldnt hold off the Penticton Vees in the final frame. I thought Vernon played very well in the first two periods but just couldnt get the offence going in the 3rd. Not alot of scoring chances for both teams but the Vipers only managed two in the 3rd. The Vipers need to stay a little more dicaplined against a team like Penticton. The Vipers continue to struggle away from home with just one win on the road since November, 12th 2011. With the loss and a Chiefs loss in overtime to PG the Vipers fall back into 5th place one point back of Chilliwack.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Mike Reilly (1 goal & 1 assist) Again I was very impressed with Mike Reilly who has played very well against the Vipers all season. Reilly made a nice play to score the game winner.

Zach Urban (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well on the Vees backend.

Connor Reilly (1 assist) Had atleast two or three good chances tonight, is very quick, a smooth skater and very dangerous in and around the net.

Logan Johnston (1 goal) Also played very well on the Vees blueline.

Mario Lucia was stopped on a breakaway come up with a few chances tonight. Another Vees forward who is dangerous with and without the puck.

Bryce Gervais (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played very well up front for the Vees. Another player who is dangerous in and around the net, come up with a few nice scoring plays but also setup a few nice plays as well.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

Congratulations to the Penticton Vees for winning their 33rd straight game. This is just amazing and you have to wonder if anyone will be able to beat them let alone knock them off come playoff time? The Vees who carried the edge in play in the 1st period had some good chances but couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow. The Vipers really took the physical play to the Vees in the 2nd and Penticton seemed to have troubles as Vernon ended up with some good pressure and really took it too Penticton for a while. Give Penticton credit they seemed to change their game plan a little in the 3rd and took it to the Vipers really forcing the Vipers with a strong forecheck. Penticton's defence played very well in the 3rd giving up just four shots and not allowing the Vipers anywhere really near the Vees goal. Penticton's defence really shutdown Vernon's offence most of the third period. This team has so much firepower and it showed tonight as the Vees down by two goals scored three quick goals just over six minutes part to take their first lead of the night in the 3rd. This team is so good and so strong you really have to play a perfect game against them in order to win. One mistake or one shift off and the pucks in the back of your net.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Max Mowat (Injured)
Riley Hunt
Luke Juha (Injured)

Penticton:
None

3 Stars:

1st Star: Wade Murphy (1 goal)
2nd Star: Zach Urban (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Aaron Hadley (1 goal)

For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977770&link=bchl