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 double overtime in front of 981 fans at the Shaw Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Salmon Arm: Adam Clark
1st Period:
Both teams come ready to play tonight in a very fast paced opening period with very little scoring chances. Both teams come out hitting, going back and forth with very little whistles. The Vipers got some early pressure in the opening few minutes but no real good scoring opportunities. The Silverbacks would get the games first scoring chance of the night five minutes into the contest after Harlon Orr put a nice move on Kevin Guiltinan before passing off and setting up Anthony Croston in the slot who ripped a hard high shot that missed the net. This game was pretty chippy with lots of pushing and shoving after the play stopped. I thought Vernon had a slight edge in play in the first half played with lots of jump-energy and played physical but it was Salmon Arm who had the slight edge in play in the second half also played with lots of jump and laid the body. Lots of back and forth play but again not alot of real good quality scoring chances at both ends of the rink. With five minutes remaining after the play stopped Kevin Guiltinan and Jason Trott exchanged words before Guiltinan tried to get Trott to drop his gloves as both players picked up roughing minors. Both players exchanged words in the penalty box. On the next play Sean Flanagan's point shot pinballed off atleast three or four players on it's way towards the goal just missing the far corner on a very close call. With two minutes remaining Jason Trott took a punch at Marc Hetnik before both players exhcnaged words before both ended up in the penalty box. The Vipers with some late pressure couldnt generate any real good chances before Adam Tambellini broke free from his man getting a parcial breakaway in the final thirty three seconds, Tambellini with a defender on him got off a quick high wrist shot from in close couldnt beat Adam Clark who stood tall taking the shot high around the throat-mask area made the tough save. It was scoreless after 20 minutes of play in a fairly evenly played period. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-8.
2nd Period: The Silverbacks got off to a good start early getting some early pressure on the Vipers off the opening faceoff. Salmon Arm would get the games first powerplay just 1:38 into the middle frame. With no real pressure or good puck posetion the Backs would record just two shots didnt have much of a powerplay as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Vipers who couldnt recover after the big penalty kill allowed Salmon Arm to keep the momentum going as Vernon looked a little slow-sluggish early to start the 2nd. The Silverbacks who were moving the puck well had all kinds of pressure deep in the Viper zone. A nice passing play down low allowed Shane Hanna to sneak in from the point, pick up the slick pass from behind the goal and snapping a quick low shot from inside the circle but couldnt beat Austin Smith who made a quick left toe save kicking the puck out at the last second to keep this game scoreless. Smith was sharp early as just minutes later the veteran 19 yr old goaltender was forced to make back to back saves from in close as Salmon Arm come up with three real good scoring chances couldnt open the scoring. The Backs with all kinds of pressure were outplaying Vernon and the better team in the first half before finally the Vipers would get the play in deep at the midway mark. A hard fought shift down low the Vipers didnt quit battled hard digging for the loose puck in a scramble in front of Adam Clark who was forced to make three saves before finally Colton Sparrow on the rebound beat Clark who was down and out giving Vernon the 1-0 lead at 10:07 Brendan Persley & TJ Dumonceaux collected the assists on the Vipers first shot of the period. This goal seemed to wake the Vipers up giving them life as Vernon slowly started to get their legs going and started to come on. Just a minute later a nice long pass setup Pearce Eviston who went in all alone for the breakaway was robbed by Adam Clark who went down just got his left skate up in the air at the last second as Eviston tried raising the puck up and over a sprawling Clark but couldnt give Vernon a 2-0 lead on a huge save by Clark. The Vipers now turned the tables and it was Vernon who was coming on with some good pressure, shortly after Aaron Hadley at the side of the net on the doorstep was stopped by Clark. Hadley with back to back chances couldnt put the Vipers up by two. TJ Dumonceaux couldnt connect on the pass on a odd man rush had a great chance to capitalize as it was Vernon who now was outplaying the Backs and the better of the two teams in the second half. Salmon Arm would get their second man advantage late but again couldnt generate much offence on the powerplay. Just a single shot with the man advantage it was the Vipers who would kill off the penalty kill. Just like the opening period tonight's game was pretty chippy as lots of pushing and shoving after the whistle. The Vipers with a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Backs outshot the Vipers 10-9.
3rd Period: Salmon Arm come out hard to start the third got some good pressure in the opening two minutes before the Vipers come right back, just five minutes in Adam Tambellini and Aaron Hadley with the two on one, Tambellini fed Hadley who was robbed by the glove of a sprawling Adam Clark who come across the crease to make a sprawling glove save to keep this a one goal game. Clark played very well tonight making several big saves. Just over a minute later the Vipers would lose Vernon product Jedd Soleway after being tossed from the hockey game for checking from behind. It too just ten seconds for the Backs to capitalize after winning the draw in the Viper zone Vernon product Alex Gillies setup a wide open Shane Hanna in front who went high and over Austin Smith tying the game 1-1 at 6:12 Gillies with the lone helper. But just two minutes later the Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night. With good pressure moving the puck around Pearve Eviston did a great job at getting in front of Adam Cark, Eviston took three crosschecks to the back, two from Clark with no call on the play the Vipers did manage to generate a few chances but Salmon Arm would excape killing off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired Clark and the Silverbacks were more concerned about Eviston at the top of the crease, Aaron Hadley used Eviston as a screen in front, and ripped a high hard shot upstairs over Adam Clark just seconds after the powerplay expired to give Vernon a 2-1 lead at 10:07 Eviston and Marc Hetnik with the assists. From here on in the Viper defence went to work as Vernon tried sitting on a one goal lead. The Vipers who played dump and chase for the remainder of the game did a great job hitting center chipping the puck in deep and changing lines, this killing off alot of time off the clock and not allowing the Backs a chance to generate any kind of attack. The Silverbacks would get a close call with about six minutes remaining after a shot from the point hit bodies in front of Austin Smith, with a scramble in front the Backs couldnt collect the loose puck before Vernon cleared the zone. The Vipers defence was solid in the third as Vernon played dump and chase for the remainder of the period winding the clock right down as Adam Clark would head to the bench for the extra attacker with one minute remaining. With twenty two seconds remaining and it looking like Vernon was going to hang on for just their second road win of the season Michael Statchuk iced the puck this forcing a faceoff deep in the Vipers zone. Scott Robinson called a timeout before the Backs would win the draw, a quick shot from the point hit someone in front forcing a mad scrambe before Smith would cover up the puck to stop the play. On the next draw the Backs would win the faceoff again another quick shot from the point missed the net, as the puck come hard off the back boards a rush of Silverbacks went hard towards the goal Smith was forced to make one save but with traffic in front and the puck still loose Shane Hanna would collect the loose puck and go up and over a down and out Austin Smith to tie the game with just 10.2 seconds remaining as the Shaw Centre went nuts. Ryan Schwalbe and newcomer Blake Box picked up the assists. A very entertaining game and period as both teams would head to overtime for the second straight game. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 9-8.
Overtime: The Vipers had the slight edge in play but neither team had any real good scoring opportunities. It was still tied 2-2 after 65 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 3-1.
Double Overtime: In the first minute Aaron Hadley one on one got off a hard shot from the slot forced Clark to make a huge pad save before Hadley picked up the rebound getting stopped by Adam Clark on the second chance. The Vipers pulling out all the stops in the extra period going for the win had several good chances. Colton Sparrow and Pearce Eviston went back and forth with some nice passes couldnt connect on two good opportunities in close. Aaron Hadley was then hauled down in close wich would have given him a parcial breakaway but no call on the play. Eviston and Sparrow who looked very dangerous in the overtime tried connecting on a two on one but couldnt handle the pass. It was shortly after that the Silverbacks come back the other way on a three on two, Shane Hanna setup Jason Trott for the game winner at 2:57 giving the Silverbacks their third straight win. Hanna and Brock Balson picked up the assists. Shots were even at three each.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Marc Hetnik (1 assist) I thought was the Vipers best defenceman tonight. Hetnik looked calm and played with alot of confidence all night. Was good with and without the puck.
The line of Adam Tambellini, Aaron Hadley (1 goal) and Pearce Eviston (1 assist) played very well. Tambellini and Hadley both gave the Silverbacks lots of trouble through out tonights game.
Craig Martin played his best game as a Viper tonight. Was really skating hard, really flying out there, created and generated lots of chances and looked very confident.
Colton Sparrow (1 goal) I thought played very well, had lots of jump and was really going all game. Sparrow and Pearce Eviston looked very good in overtime.
Austin Smith (28 saves) Played well between the pipes. Made a few nice saves.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought the Vipers played much better then last Saturday's overtime win over West Kelowna. I really liked the way the Vipers played and looked tonight. I thought the team come out ready to play, played with alot of jump and energy and played physical in a very chippy game. Other then the first eight or nine minutes of the 2nd period the Vipers did have the better scoring chances and should have never let this one slip away. A bad decision on a late icing play that cost the Vipers the victory. Its hard to see them play so hard and so well and then not being able to hold onto the lead before losing in overtime. Even though they did play well and looked good at the end of the night its still a loss and the Vipers still only have just three wins in their first ten games. Just like last year the Vipers cant seem to win on the road, just one win in six road games. Vernon, Salmon Arm & Nanaimo all sit tied for second last place in the league just four points up on last place Cowichan Valley. The Vipers are starting to slip away from some of the top teams and need to start putting together some wins and in a hurry. I know its still early but Vernon is already ten points back of first place Penticton. The Vipers now head to Chilliwack tomorrow night for a tough game vs the 2nd place Chiefs.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Sean Flanagan played very well on the Backs blueline. Flanagan who sees alot of ice was very steady for Salmon Arm tonight.
Shane Hanna (2 goals & 1 assist) Played a heck of a game for the Backs. Hanna looked very good all night, was quick on his feet, really reads and sees the ice well, jumped up into the play on several occasions tonight.
Josh Bowes played a strong game up front for Salmon Arm. Bowes seemed to be involved in the play on several different occasions.
Jason Trott (Overtime winner) I thought played with an edge and got under the Vipers skin early and often in the opening period. Trott a former WHLer seemed to get involved in the after the whistle activities trying to get under the skin of several Vipers.
Anthony Croston I thought used his size and didnt look out of place tonight played well.
Connor Fynn was another forward who showed signs of skill up front. With no name bar on his jersey Fynn made a few nice plays tonight.
Adam Clark (31 saves) Come up with some big saves tonight to give his team a chance to stay in the contest and come up with a huge overtime victory.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
After starting the season 0-3 the Silverbacks have won three straight as Scott Robinson has his club playing its best hockey of the young season. The Backs who now have one more victory then Vernon (Four) played very well tonight. I dont think Salmon Arm had nearly the amount of good opportunities over the Vipers but did play and look well. This team didnt quit and didnt back down from the chippy play after the whistles. In a game where maybe it didnt look like they were going to tie the game, they pull out a late game tying goal before excaping overtime and potting the OT winner. Give this team some time but they are slowly starting to come along.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Logan Mick (Sick)
Mitch Van Teeling (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Dylan Bowen
Ryan Simpson
Riley Hunt (Injured)
Troy Petrick
Silverbacks energy player of the game:
Anthony Croston
Three Stars:
1st Star: Shane Hanna (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Jason Trott (Overtime winner)
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=1102841&link=bchl
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