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 Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,706 fans at the Vipers home opener at Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Salmon Arm: Adam Clark
1st Period: It didnt take the Vipers to get going early and often as Vernon got their legs going early and come up with good pressure right off the opening faceoff moving the puck around deep in the Silverbacks zone creating some good chances. Salmon Arm would get their first chance of the night after Jeff Kennedy's point shot was stopped after Austin Smith made a nice glove save. The Vipers would get a scare on the play as Colton Sparrow was down in pain for several minutes before being helped off the ice. Sparrow looked to have injured his leg-knee and was very slow getting off the ice. Sparrow went to the Vipers dressing room but would return just past the midway mark of the period. The Vipers would open the scoring on a strange goal after Vernon product Michael Roberts took the draw inside the Backs zone, the puck went high and over the shoulder of Adam Clark and somehow got under the crossbar and in past a stunned Clark as Roberts credited with his first career BCHL goal at 3:39 Roberts goal was unassisted. Just shortly after the Vipers would get another scare after Kevin Guiltinan was checked hard into the boards and went down in a hurry, Guiltinan was very woozy and slow getting up and headed straight for the Vipers dressing room but after a few shifts also returned. The Backs would get the games first powerplay and come very close to tying the game after Vernon product Alex Gillies beat Smith but rang his shot off the post. This was the lone Silverbacks only quality chance as a good penalty kill by Vernon would kill off the minor. The Vipers went back to work and just like the opening period in Salmon Arm last night the Vipers were once again the better of the two teams in tonight's first period. Vernon with several good quality chances in and around the net but the Vipers just couldnt capitalize. Landon Robin setup Mitch Van Teeling on a Vipers three on two, Van Teeling with a rocket of a shot from the circle couldnt beat Adam Clark who come out to challenge making a big blocker save shooting the puck up into the netting behind the goal. Clark was forced to come up big later on after coming out to the top of his crease made another big save just getting the blocker on a shot from TJ Dumonceaux. Troy Petrick was checked hard behind the Backs goal and was slow to get up but managed to get to the bench and head to the dressing room but would return. In the second half a turnover inside the Vipers blueline caused Dylan Bowen a chance to get off a quick shot from just inside the line, Bowen's shot was redirected along the way making Austin Smith to come up with a tough save. On the same shift-play the Vipers would make a long stretch pass to Colton Sparrow who went in all alone for the breakaway but Clark stood tall closing the fivehole keeping this a one goal game. Aaron Hadley then with a good chance in front couldnt beat Adam Clark who played very well tonight. Salmon Arm got a late rush in the final seconds setup Brayden Sherbinin who's point shot was stopped by Smith with just .9 seconds remaining. Vernon was the better of the two teams carried most of the play and had lots of quality chances but couldnt capitalize. The Vipers with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 14-8.
2nd Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start getting the play in deep Vernon with some good pressure early come up with a little flurry of chances in close. The Silverbacks come back a few minutes later with a great chance but Smith made a big save off Bryden Marsh. Vernon would get an early powerplay but the man advantage struggled as Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired the Backs caught the Viper defence napping sprung Dylan Bowen who just got out of the penalty box, Bowen tried to go in for the breakaway but some good hustle and a good defensive play by Ryan Renz forced Bowen to get off a weak shot. Just shortly after TJ Dumonceaux with some good hustle come up with a chance at the side of the net but couldnt beat Clark. Salmon Arm who was outplayed in the first period slowly started to get their legs going and finally got the offence going getting some pressure and scoring chances. Jason Trott with a quick shot from the circle forced Austin Smith to make the blocker save. At the midway mark tempers heated up with a few minor scrums after the whistle forced some pushing and shoving between both teams. The Vipers would then get into penalty trouble. Salmon Arm would get a very short two man advantage but it was Aaron Hadley whos hustle and determination forced atleast two or three Viper shorthanded scoring chances as Vernon would kill off the two man advantage before tempers heated up once again with some pushing and shoving, players exchanging words wich put the Vipers back in the penalty box giving the Silverbacks their second two man advantage of the period and this time it cost Vernon. Some good pressure by the Backs, moving the puck around Sean Flannagan's point shot was deflected by Troy Petrick who beat Smith at 12:46 tying the game at one. Flannagan and Jason Trott collected the assists. This goal was just the Silverbacks second goal of the season (playing their fourth game tonight) gave the Backs some life and seemed to turn the tables as Salmon Arm come on and looked-played much better in the middle frame. Just two minutes later Vernon would get their second powerplay of the night, with some pressure the Vipers didnt generate alot of chances as Salmon Arm killed off the minor. The Silverbacks come right back with some late pressure in the final two minutes, keeping the Vipers hemned in their own end. Moving the puck around the Backs with a few close calls come close to taking the lead. Brayden Sherbinin's setup Jeff Kennedy who forced Austin Smith to make a tough save in the final twenty seconds. Still with the pressure the Vipers fourth line couldnt clear the zone, a chip shot off the glass was stopped by the Jeff Flannagan wich forced a shot towards the goal and with just .1 seconds remaining Jeff Kennedy beat Smith down low giving Salmon Arm their first lead of the night. Brayden Sherbinin and Sean Flannagan with the assists. The Vipers got into penalty trouble and Salmon Arm got some life and turned the tables playing a much better second period. The Silverbacks were the better team in the second. The Backs with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 14-10.
3rd Period: Vernon seemed to re-group and come out hard really taking it to the Silverbacks early and often. The Vipers with all kinds of pressure were firing the puck from almost everywhere. The Vipers come up with several good chances but once again couldnt burry their chances. Adam Clark had to be alert and was very solid in tonight's game making several saves in the final frame. Vernon would get an early powerplay, with several close calls the Vipers had some good chances but couldnt capitalize as the Backs would excape and kill off the penalty. The Vipers controlled the entire period as the play was deep in the Salmon Arm end all period. A mad scramble in front of Adam Clark but the Vipers couldnt jam away the loose puck before Clark was able to cover the puck and stop the play. Vernon was outshooting the Silverbacks 8-2 at the midway mark. At the midway mark Brandon Mistal with a great chance in front couldnt beat Smith who made a nice pad save off a nice three way passing play by the Silverbacks. Vernon would then get their second powerplay of the period but again couldnt capitalize after coming very close with a few more chances. With just under seven minutes remaining and the Vipers pouring on all kinds of pressure Aaron Hadley carried the play out of his own end before making a nice move in the neutral zone, going one on one Hadley beat his man before beating Clark at 13:02 on a nice goal tying the game 2-2. Pearce Eviston and Brett Corkey collected the helpers. The Vipers basically rolling their top three lines the final five or six minutes now going for the game winner had lots of pressure all period. The Silverbacks would finally get a few good shifts in the final few minutes as both teams were tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. The Vipers dominated the third outplaying Salmon Arm. The Vipers outshot the Backs 12-3.
Overtime: The Vipers carried the play early but couldnt generate any real scoring plays before Ryan Simpson's shot was stopped by Austin Smith the rebound come out to Josh Bowes who beat Smith on the rebound giving Salmon Arm their first win of the season at 1:53 as the Silverbacks bench erupted pouring onto the ice. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 2-0.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Craig Martin looked very good up front for the Vipers. Martin who was skating hard created and generated several scoring chances through out the game.
TJ Dumonceaux played with lots of jump-energy and created lots of open ice with his speed and skill. Dumonceaux had several good chances tonight.
Aaron Hadley (1 goal) Was the Vipers best player tonight. Also played with alot of jump-energy for the second straight game. Hadley just like last night worked extremely hard and played very well at both ends of the rink. Hadley was a force and very hard to handle on the penalty kill tonight. Hardest working Viper tonight.
Ryan Renz for the second straight night played a very solid game on the blueline. Made just one mistake but overall was very steady on the backend.
Austin Smith who recorded his first career BCHL shutout last night saw alot more action and had to come up with a few tougher saves tonight compared to last night. Smith played well between the pipes tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
With the loss the Vipers fall to 1-1-0-2 I thought the Vipers were the better team for two out of the first three periods and played pretty good for most of the night. Jason Williamson was bang on in his post game interview after the game when he said his team didnt play a full sixty minutes, took one period off and it cost them. Williamson also said his team didnt battle hard enough like they did last night and hes right. I thought the Vipers played a very solid full sixty minute game last night but tonight they didnt play-look so good in the second period. The Vipers didnt battle-work as hard as they did last night. I didnt see that compete level I saw in the Vipers last night. For the second straight night the Vipers with several real good scoring chances but again they couldnt capitalize on their chances. I also didnt think their passing was a crisp as it was last night. The Vipers again took too many penalties and some undicaplined ones at that, especially in the second period. The Vipers also with a few turn overs-poor passes breaking out of their own end tonight. The Vipers need to battle and play a full sixty minutes and need to start to capitalize on some of these scoring chances. Overall the Vipers should have won tonight, outshooting Salmon Arm 40-23 but give credit to Adam Clark who gave his team a chance to win. The Vipers also didnt get any puck luck or bounces tonight.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Sean Flannagan (2 assists) Played very well on the Silverbacks blueline
Jason Trott who was recently aquired from the WHL Portland Winterhawks this week played with an edge and battled hard most of the night. I didnt notice Trott last night but the veteran twenty yr old was much more effective and noticable tonight.
Brayden Sherbinin (1 assist) The former West Kelowna Warrior d-man played very well this evening. Sherbinin jumped up into the play on several occasions and created a few scoring chances.
Bryden Marsh I thought played well up front for Salmon Arm. Wasnt very flashy but was involved in the play at times and competed most of the night.
Alex Holland who was recently aquired from Trail on Thursday played very well tonight. I noticed him more in the first two periods as he was in and around the net alot.
Adam Clark (38 saves) Played very well tonight giving his team a chance to win. A bigger kid stood tall, come out to challenge and played his position very well made most of the Viper saves look routine. Didnt have to make alot of tough or flashy saves but was solid between the pipes keeping his team in the game at times.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
After a pretty dissapointing 3-0 loss in the teams home opener last night the Backs come into Vernon and spoil the Vipers home opener tonight with a huge 3-2 OT victory and their first win of the young season. Heading into tonight's contest Salmon Arm had been shutout twice in their first three games scoring just a single goal in all three games. I thought the Silverbacks were outplayed most of the opening period and were totally outplayed in the third but give the Backs credit for playing well in the second period, they got some life, slowly started getting their offence rolling and were the better team in the middle frame. A big second period gave them a lead heading into the third. You have to wonder if the Backs dont show up in the second this may have been another long night for Salmon Arm. A huge win for a young team may give them the confidence they need to build for the next few games.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Marc Hetnik (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Anthony Croston
Josh Ellis
Three Stars:
1st Star: Josh Bowes (Overtime Winner)
2nd Star: Aaron Hadley (1 goal)
3rd Star: Adam Clark (38 saves)
For more on tonight's BCHL game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102786&link=bchl
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