For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my
thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all
have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my
thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap
on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's BCHL game as Prince George defeated Vernon 5-2 in front of 1,543 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Prince George: Kirk Thompson
1st Period: A minute into the opening frame Vernon would win the draw off a faceoff in the Prince George zone, The Vipers with control would move the puck around before Craig Martin setup Adam Tambellini in front who was stopped by Kirk Thompson. Just under a minute later Marc Hetnik who made his return to the Vipers lineup after being injured in the second game of the regular season took a quick shot from the point that was deflected in front by TJ Dumonceaux who was stopped by Thompson who come up with a nice pad save. On the same play Colton Sparrow hit Latrell Charleson who challenged Sparrow to fight, Charleson went after Sparrow before both players dropped the gloves. Charleson would get the instigator and ten minute misconduct as Vernon would get an early powerplay. The Vipers who couldnt get much setup with the man advantage struggled as the Spruce Kings would kill off the minor as Vernon wouldnt get a single shot on the powerplay. PG come back with atleast two or three hard shifts recording their first shot on net four and a half minutes into the game. On the next shift Liam Board come up with the Spruce Kings first scoring opportunity with a great chance but was stopped by the pad of Austin Smith. The Vipers come right back with a flurry of chances in and around the goal. Adam Tambellini and Craig Martin with good chances couldnt beat Kirk Thompson. Just before the midway mark the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night but again Vernon would struggle with the extra attacker. Pearce Eviston with a chance at the side of the net in the dying seconds of the powerplay couldnt raise the puck up and over Thompson who come across the crease making a big pad save keeping Eviston off the scoreboard as PG would kill off the minor. Sean Landrey come back the other way and with a quick low shot from the circle couldnt beat Austin Smith who kicked out the left leg making a big pad save. Just over two minutes later the Vipers would go back to the powerplay for their third man advantage of the period. Once again the Vipers would struggle as Prince George would kill off another penalty keeping the game scoreless. The Spruce Kings slowly started to get their game going as PG come up with a few good scoring opportunities late in the period. Cam Lawson setup Liam Board on an odd man rush but Smith made another nice save. Coltyn Hansen would get a parcial breakaway as Brett Corkey would hustle back to try and tigh up Hansen who got off a low shot that was stopped by Smith but Hansen was still rewarded with a penalty shot with 2:09 left in the opening period. Hansen would lose control of the puck but collect and get off a weak second chance as Smith made the fairly easy save keeping this game 0-0. The Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first half outshooting PG 10-3 at one point but the Spruce Kings battled back and played well in the second half. The Vipers could have been up a couple of goals but went 0-3 with the man advantage. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 11-11.
2nd Period: Geoff Crisfield had a great chance to give Vernon the lead in the opening minute after the Vipers with some nice passing created a scramble in front of Kirk Thompson, the puck come out to the slot to a wide open Crisfield who couldnt connect who had a wide open cage. The Vipers were buzzing early with lots of pressure deep in the Spruce Kings zone, Thompson had to be sharp in the opening few minutes as the Vipers were pressing creating some good opportunities. Adam Tambellini from the circle was stopped by Thompson, TJ Dumonceaux was stopped in close as was Colton Sparrow. The Vipers would finally get rewarded for their hard work after TJ Dumonceaux stepped over the blueline before ripping a low hard shot that beat Kirk Thompson from the circle giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 3:30 Ryan Renz with the lone helper. PG would get their first powerplay of the night a minute and a half later, moving the puck around well the Spruce Kings created and generated some real good chances. Austin Smith had to be sharp making several key saves. Smith stopped Cam Lawson, Sean Landrey and Mitch Eden before Lawson beat Smith high just as the penalty expired as the Spruce Kings tied the game 1-1 at 7:00 Liam Board and Coltyn Hansen with the assists. The Vipers won the draw, got the play in deep and come right back with a few flurries of their own. Adam Tambellini again with a quick shot couldnt beat Thompson, before TJ Dumonceaux with a quick shot from the slot off a PG turnover was stopped by Thompson who played very well tonight. The Vipers just like the first period were the better of the two teams in the first half getting the better of the scoring chances. Jeremiah Luedtke with an odd man rush was stopped by Smith who also played well between the pipes. Just like the opening frame Prince George played better in the second half. With five and a half minutes remaining one of the Vipers had their stick slashed out of their hands, with no call on the play Brad Ryan collected the loose puck setting up Sean Landrey who wired a high shot up and over Smith giving PG a 2-1 lead at 14:47 Ryan with the lone helper. This goal-play was the TSN turning point as for whatever reason this goal turned the tables and deflated the Vipers as a team. The Vipers were not the same team after this goal and couldnt recover as it was all Prince George from here on in. The Vipers who lost all their energy looked dejected as the Spruce Kings carried the better of the play for the final five minutes taking it to Vernon as the Vipers just couldnt do much of anything. Cam Lawson with a nice move inside the Vipers blueline made an amazing pass setting up Coltyn Hansen who was robbed by the glove of Austin Smith. The Vipers would get into penalty trouble late and it cost them. On the penalty kill the Vipers would take another penalty but yet to touch the puck Brad Ryan's lazer of a point shot beat Smith high going crossbar and in on a wicked blast giving PG a 3-1 lead at 18:55 Mitch Eden and Tyson Witala collected the assists. The Spruce Kings would head right back to the powerplay moving the puck around well Brett Corkey made a huge defensive play just getting his stick in the way blocking the PG shot on a wide open cage. Vernon would excape the period as the buzzer sounded. The Vipers got off to a quick start and looked very good getting several good chances, opened the scoring before the wheels fell off late in the period. As I stated before Prince George's second goal took the life out of the Vipers and they wernt the same team for the remainder of the game. Give the Spruce Kings credit they didnt give up and played well in the second half scoring three straight unanswered goals. PG was up 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Spruce Kings outshot the Vipers 16-11.
3rd Period: The Spruce Kings started the third with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the second. The Vipers would get into more penalty trouble early and often taking three straight penalties giving the Spruce Kings back to back two man advantages. The Vipers would lose Kevin Guiltinan for half of the third after picking up a ten minute misconduct. PG moving the puck around seemed to be firing on any chance they had as Austin Smith was busy facing 19 shots in the final frame. Cam Lawson put Prince George up by three at 2:13 beating Smith on a weak goal fivehole. Brad Ryan and Mitch Eden picked up the helpers. This took the crowd out of the game and basically put the game away. With both teams back to five on five Cam Lawson come right back with some slick moves cutting through the Vernon zone Lawson on a parcial breakaway was stopped by Austin Smith who had to be quick to jump back into position to rob Coltyn Hansen on the rebound before making a third save off Liam Board. Smith with back to back to back saves keeping this a four goal game. Adam Tambellini come back one on one, beat his man before snapping off a quick shot from the circle that was stopped by Thompson. The Spruce Kings would then get a short two man advantage making Vernon pay after Lyndon Martell beat Smith high giving PG a 5-1 lead at 5:15 Mitch Eden and Brad Ryan with the assists. The third was all PG as the Vipers who looked out of gas didnt have much ebergy left in the tank other then the odd scoring chance the Vipers were outplayed, outhustled and outhit in the final frame. TJ Dumonceaux who played with alot of energy and played very well had a great chance in front but couldnt beat Kirk Thompson. At the other end Austin Smith made a nice save off Sean Landrey and Lyndon Martell. Vernon would get back to back powerplays but had very little to show for the man advantage as PG would kill off both minors. The Spruce Kings come right back with more offence, Alec Butcher with a great chance in front couldnt beat Smith before Latrell Charleson's point shot was redirected in front after Smith made a tough pad save with traffic in front. The Vipers would get on the scoreboard late after Jedd Soleway setup Mitch Van Teeling in front cutting the lead to three at 16:39 Soleway and TJ Dumonceaux with the assists. In the final minute of play the Vipers would lose Logan Mick who picked up a check to the head-ten minute misconduct. With the man advantage PG moved the puck around well creating a few chance. Michael Statchuk made a solid defensive play in the dying seconds stopping Alec Butcher in front of the open net. Prince George couldnt capitalize before the final buzzer as the Spruce Kings knocked off the Vipers 5-2. Two early powerplay goals put the game away early for the Spruce Kings after crusing to a 5-2 victory in the third. PG outshot Vernon 19-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey I thought was the Vipers best defenceman tonight. Corkey played very well through out tonight's game.
Adam Tambellini didnt stand out but played well coming up with several opportunities.
Craig Martin played very well in the opening period was one of the Vipers better players. Was really playing with alot of jump and energy, had atleast one or two scoring chances.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist) Was the Vipers best player this evening. Played with alot of jump and energy all night. Collected his first career BCHL goal on a nice low shot from just inside the PG blueline. Had several good chances through out the game.
Austin Smith (41 saves) Even though Smith gave up five goals, yes the fourth PG goal was a softie I thought Smith played very well making several big saves through out the night.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought Vernon played very well for almost two periods until the wheels fell off. I thought the Vipers come ready to play, showed alot of energy, had the better of the scoring chances and looked very good in the first and second period before the Spruce Kings second goal late in the period. For whatever reason after PG's second goal with five and a half minutes remaining in the 2nd the Vipers lost all confidence, jump, any energy they had and looked dejected. The whole team just wasnt the same after this goal. It looked like they ran out of gas and just quit skating. After opening the scoring the Vipers gave up five straight goals and way too many penalties. Tonight was a big test for the Vipers, facing one of the top teams from the Mainland Division (PG tied for 1st place with Coquitlam) and they couldnt play a full sixty minutes. Vernon struggled with the man advantage tonight, three straight powerplay's in the 1st could have put this game away early or atleast put PG in a big hole but they couldnt get much going all night with the man advantage. I dont get how a team that was playing so well up until the second goal just fell apart and couldnt recover? Let's hope the Vipers can regroup, handle the bus ride to Trail and play a full sixty minutes tomorrow night. Former Vernon Lakers forward and Assistant Coach Spencer Ward was at tonight's game as was former Vernon Vikings goaltender and current Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland was also in attendance.
Top Players: (Prince George)
Brad Ryan (2 assists) Played well on the Spruce Kings blueline.
The line of Cam Lawson (2 goals), Coltyn Hansen (1 assist) & Sean Landrey (1 goal) was the Spruce Kings best line tonight. Lawson & Hansen also played with Lyndon Martell and Liam Board on a few shifts. Cam Lawson was the Spruce Kings best player tonight, this kid really carried the offensive attack for PG creating and generating chances all night. This kid is quick and very dangerous with and without the puck. Sean Landrey had two real good chances in the opening period as well as a few others through out tonight's game. Landrey a bigger kid can skate and show his offensive side. Liam Board also played well on PG's top line.
Mitch Eden (3 assists) Was involved in the play alot, also was very solid on the Spruce Kings backend.
Tyson Witala (1 assist) Looked fairly good up front for PG. This kid is also quick and skate.
Kirk Thompson (28 saves) Played very well especially in the first two periods. Kept his team in the game giving them a chance to win.
Game Thoughts: (Prince George)
The Spruce Kings improve to 4-0-1-1 and sit in 1st place in the Mainland Division after Coquitlam fell 2-1 to Surrey. I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first half in each of the first two periods but give PG credit they didnt give up and in both first two periods come back and played very well in the second half. The Vipers did also have the better of the scoring chances in the first two periods but Kirk Thompson kept his team in the game and PG capitalized on their chances. Down 1-0 they battled back scoring five unaswered goals. I thought the Spruce Kings penalty kill was good and really liked their powerplay. Like in past years once again PG has a big team with solid goaltending. Ive always liked Vernon-Prince George games so it's sad to see this is the only time Viper fans will get a chance to see the Spruce Kings play in Vernon. PG moves the puck well and likes to try and generate odd man rushes. Prince George was shooting and going high on almost all their shots beating Smith high on four out of the five goals. PG has a pretty good team from what I saw but I didnt like their new third set jerseys.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Brendan Persley
Prince George:
Tanner Fjellstrom
David London
Vipers energy player of the game:
TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist)
3 Stars:
1st Star: Brad Ryan (2 assists)
2nd Star: Cam Lawson (2 goals)
3rd Star: Mitch Eden (3 assists)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102807&link=bchl
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