Gutsy Vipers Fall To Grizzlies:

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Gutsy Vipers Fall to Grizzlies
 
Sunday, January 20, 2013 - Submitted by Don Klepp

 A hard working band of Vipers battled through fatigue, but eventually succumbed to the Victoria Grizzlies 1-0 on Myles Fitzgerald’s third period goal on Sunday afternoon.

Victoriahadn’t played since Friday, while the Vipers were playing their third road game in two and a half days. Still, they hung with the Grizzlies for two periods, as they focused on defence and looked for a break.

Victoriaplays very good defence at home, especially with their league-leading home penalty killing unit. Consequently, the Vipers were unable to get the puck past Michael Stiliadis, even though they created five good scoring chances with the man advantage.

Meanwhile, the Vipers killed off three opportunities by the league’s top-ranked Grizzly power play.

Stiliadis was very good for the Grizzlies, but Austin Smith was even better in the Viper net. His best two saves came in the second period, including a stop on a Pearce Eviston breakaway. In the other, he robbed Gerry Fitzgerald who had an open net in which to bury a rebound.

“It was a desperation move,” said Smith. “The original shot came though traffic on the left side and when I saw that the guy on the other side had a good chance, I just threw myself head first and I think I caught it on my stick and arm.”

The Vipers went down to three lines after Mike Roberts got tangled up with Chris Albertini and suffered a leg injury, in the second period.

That factor and the Grizzly forecheck wore down the Vipers, who were outshot 16-5 and outchanced 8-5 in the third period.

In the end, the difference came because the Grizzly top line of the Fitzgerald triplets was able to manufacture a goal while the Viper unit of Mason Blacklock, Andrew Tegeler, and Dexter Dancs was held in check.

Myles Fitzgerald scored the lone goal at 10:51 of the third period. Austin Smith, who was at the right side of his crease to face a Grizzly rush, tried to slide across to face a shot from the right wing after the puck came out hard. Fitzgerald didn’t give Smith time to set – he whirled and fired in one motion and the puck slipped through Smith’s pads.

Despite the loss, the Vipers were upbeat following strong efforts in all three weekend games, which earned four of a possible six points.

This coming Friday, the Vipers travel to Penticton. The next home games are February 1 and 2.