Another Gutsy Road Win:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Another Gutsy Road Win
 
Thursday, March 7, 2013 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Once again short-staffed on the road, the Vipers edged the Merritt Centennials 2-1 with a strong team effort on Wednesday.

That effort was in evidence during the last 67 seconds of the game when the Centennials had a power play and Tyler Steel on the bench for a sixth attacker. Austin Smith made a pair of superb saves and the Viper penalty killers defended like pit bulls.

The PK unit, which has had its issues this season, has been very good lately and in this game they kept the Merritt power play scoreless in five opportunities. As an added bonus, Mitch McAllister scored the winning goal short handed at 13:35 of the second period.

Marc Hetnik broke up a Centennial rush at centre ice. Seeing the play unfold, McAllister broke behind the Merritt defencemen and took Hetnik’s pass at the Merritt blue line to create a breakaway. At the goalmouth, he faked a forehand and flipped a backhand over Steel’s right shoulder.

McAllister also contributed to the first Viper goal earlier in the second period. He moved the puck along the left wing to Craig Martin, who stepped across the blue line and made a perfect cross ice pass to Mike Roberts streaking on the right wing.

In full stride, Roberts unleashed a wrist shot that sceamed over Steel's left shoulder.

The Cents tried to claw their way back into the game with their patented all-out forecheck and they did manage one goal, at 16:11. Scott Patterson’s shot came back from the lively back boards to the slot where Kevin Lohan fired a slap shot that gave Austin Smith no chance.

At the beginning of the third period, the Centennials redoubled their aggressive forecheck as they hemmed in the Vipers for extended periods. However, the Vipers maintained their defensive shape and weathered the storm.

As the period progressed, the Vipers' nine forwards did not wilt, even though the Centennials were able to roll four lines. (Braedan Russell, Dexter Dancs, and Logan Mick are all sidelined with injury or illness and all the Viper affiliated players are involved in playoffs.)

In the last 20 minutes, the Centennials created six scoring chances while the Vipers responded with four. The stage was set for the exciting conclusion, which was intensified when referee Nick Swaine issued a tripping penalty to Brendan Persley at 18:53.

The loss left Merritt stuck at 68 points, just one point ahead of West Kelowna in the race for second place and home ice advantage in the Interior playoffs.

The Vipers have two remaining opportunities to derail opposing teams’ playoff aspirations. Penticton, who will be at Wesbild on Friday, is vying for most points and BCHL home ice advantage versus Victoria and Surrey. 

In their final game of the seaswon on Saturday, the Vipers will get another shot at the Centennials.