Blacklock Completes Viper Comeback:

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Blacklock Completes Viper Comeback
 
Sunday, February 17, 2013 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Mason Blacklock's second goal of the game gave the Vipers a 3-2 overtime win that capped an intense third period comeback against the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Down by two goals after 40 minutes, the Vipers responded to an angry tirade by Coach Jason Williamson during the second intermission. "They just had to know that their performance was unacceptable. In the second period, Cowichan outworked us, out hit us, and contained us, and we just let them do it!"

Right from the opening draw in the third period, the tide turned. In the remaining 24 minutes and 24 seconds, the Vipers created numerous scoring chances while outshooting the Capitals 29-8. Mitch McAllister started the comeback when he went hard to the net and had the rebound of a Liam Board shot bounce off him and past Connor LaCouvee at 3:51.

LaCouvee had a terrific third period, stopping shot after shot as the Vipers swarmed in the Capitals' end of the ice.
Still, Michael Statchuk believed that he had produced the tying goal with a hard, low slap shot midway through the third period, but referee Dexter Rasmussen ruled that the puck did not cross the goal line.

"I know the puck made it into the middle of the net," said Statchuk, an offensively talented D-man who is looking for his first BCHL goal. 

A lightning strike by the top line of Dexter Dancs, Andrew Tegeler, and Mason Blacklock finally broke through at 12:45. On the left wing, Dancs head manned the puck to speedster Tegeler, who broke over the Cowichan line with Blacklock. Tegeler backhanded a pass to Blacklock, whose backhand one-timer squeezed through LaCouvee's pads. 

Both LaCouvee and the Vipers' Danny Todosychuk had to make big saves during the rest of the period in order to send the game to overtime.

Blacklock won the contest 4:24 into the first overtime with a rising one-timer from the slot after being set up by Colton Sparrow.

The strong finish gave the 1590 fans reason for optimism as the Vipers try to reel in the fourth place Salmon Arm Silverbacks. However, the first 40 minutes of the game gave those fans less to cheer for.

It all started badly for the home team as they fumbled their way toward a Capital goal just 20 seconds after the opening faceoff. An ill-timed pinch by a Viper D-man gave the visitors an odd-man rush that they converted when Mikael Jung's centering pass caromed off Garrett Skrbich's skate and past Todosychuk.

Early in the second period, the Capitals benefitted from another bit of good fortune. The Cowichan net came off its posts as the play started to move out of the zone. With the capitals in possession, the referee signalled to LaCouvee to reinstate the net on its pegs. At 3:48, Jesse Neher banged in a rebound of a Mitch Ball shot to give the Capitals a two-goal lead.

The previous night in Trail, the Capitals had lost a two-goal lead in the third period and in Merritt, the Vipers had rebounded from a two-goal deficit to force overtime. Yogi Berra called such recurrences "Deja Vu all over again," and who are we to argue with Yogi's homespun wisdom?    

For the Vipers the two point win takes them to within 5 points of the last playoff spot held by the Silverbacks, and the Vipers still have a game in hand. The two teams will meet in Salmon Arm on Friday, February 22.

Then, the Vipers will entertain Langley on Saturday while the Silverbacks are idle, so there's potential for the Vipers to be just one point in arrears after next weekend's action.