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 Vipers-Smoke Eaters game as Vernon defeated Trail 5-0 in front of 2,156 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Trail: Dustin Nikkel
1st Period: Just thirty eight seconds into the game TJ Dumonceaux with a great chance at the side of the net had Dustin Nikkel beat but from a difficult angle shot high missing the open cage on a great opportunity to open the scoring. The game got off to a quick start as both teams went back and forth but with no scoring chances. Both teams were playing it close early as each team looked to be feeling one another out, waiting for the other club to make the first mistake. The Smokies with back to back chances early couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk who made a quick glove save off Sean Davies who come in from the point before stopping Braedan Cross just seconds later. Shortly after the Vipers would get a scare after Brandon Volpe crashed into Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk. Todosychuk was very slow to get up as the play continued before the referee stopped the play as Todosychuk needed help off the ice with the teams trainor and another Viper. Todosychuk wasnt putting much weight on his left foot-ankle as he headed to the Vipers dressing room and didnt return. The referee and linesmen gathered for a few minutes before deciding no penalty was made on the play. Austin Smith was forced to come into action after Todosychuk stopped just five Trail shots before leaving the game. Just over seven minutes into the 1st period Brendan Persley went after Brandon Volpe as both players dropped the gloves. On the play Trail would get the games first powerplay of the night. The Smokies with very little opportunities couldnt take advantage as Vernon would kill off the minor. With about five and a half minutes remaining Brett Mulcahy with a nice move went in and around the Trail defenceman got in close shot but fired just wide of the net. On the same play at the other end of the rink Zane Schartz would crash into Austin Smith before a small scrum would form deep in the Vipers zone wich the Vipers would come away with the man advantage, their first of the evening. The Vipers with good pressure couldnt open the scoring after the Smokies would kill off the minor. Just after the penalty expired Vernon with a flurry of late chances couldnt hit the net after Brendan Persley and TJ Dumonceaux with great looks in close missed the goal. In the final minute of play the Vipers would get called for too many men giving Trail their second powerplay of the game wich would carry into the 2nd period. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. A very wide open first period with lots of play going back and forth but very few scoring chances at both ends of the rink. Shots were even 14-14.
2nd Period: The Smoke Eaters started the period with the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. A good penalty kill by the Vipers would kill off the minor. Brett Mulcahy and Brendan Persley with a two on one would get things going for the Vipers in the first half. Mulcahy setup Persley who couldnt capitalize before Colton Sparrow joined the rush collecting the rebound somehow missed an open cage after Dustin Nikkel was forced out of position after trying for the save off Persley. A wild scramble in and around the Smokies goal but Trail got lucky as Vernon couldnt capitalize. Back come the Smoke Eaters on the same play, Jake Lucchini was stopped by Austin Smith in close on a great opportunity by Lucchini. Vernon slowly started to get their game going and slowly started to carry a edge in play before eventually opening the scoring. Riley Guenther's point shot was stopped before a pile of players jammed the front of the net, somehow Liam Coughlin was able to get the puck through bodies in front past Smokies starting goaltender Dustin Nikkel giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 7:56 Dexter Dancs & Riley Guenther collected the helpers. Just less then two minutes later the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the game and capitalize. Jared Wilson sprung Demico Hannoun on the breakaway who looked to have lost an edge just barely got the puck past Nikkel giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 10:50 Wilson with the lone assist. Shortly after Brett Mulcahy with a burst of speed went in and around two Smoke Eater players before going hard to the net couldnt beat Nikkel down low on a nice solo effort. The Vipers now started to pull away carried the better of the play for several minutes. Trail would get a late powerplay and get a great chance after Austin Smith robbed Braedan Cross at the side of the net. Smith made the first save off a shot from the point before coming across the crease to make a huge pad save off Cross keeping this a two goal lead. The Smokies would get a two man advantage but it was the strong penalty kill by Vernon who would generate and create a great shorthanded opportunity. TJ Dumonceaux with a ton of jump turned on the jets went in and around the Smokies d-man before driving to the net hard couldnt beat Dustin Nikkel down low on very similar move-save that Brett Mulcahy made earlier in the period. The Vipers with a very good penalty kill were able to kill off both minors keeping Trail off the scoresheet. The Vipers would get a late powerplay but couldnt connect after Trail with a good penalty kill would kill off the penalty. Vernon with a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers really stepped up their play in the 2nd played a very good period getting lots of great chances found the back of the net twice. Vernon was the better of the two teams carrying the better of the play for most of the period. The Vipers outshot Trail 18-11.
3rd Period: Just 1:22 into the final frame Trail would get an early powerplay but Austin Smith was sharp and so were the Vipers penalty kill as Vernon killed off the man advantage. The 3rd started just like the opening period with both teams going back and forth with some wide open entertaining hockey. Bryan Basilico hit TJ Dumonceaux from behind before Kenny Citron skated across the ice dropping the mits with Basilico. Dumonceaux would be ok and stay in the game as both Citron and Basilico were tossed from the game. Trail would get their second shot with the man advantage just two minutes later the Smokies couldnt capitalize and just as the penalty expired Taylor Armbruster beat Smith fivehole but the puck come out the other end going through the crease and into the corner boards on a close call. The Vipers had atleast two opportunities for a chance for a two on one but couldnt connect on the passing on both plays before finally Liam Coughlin setup Logan Mick with a nice pass on the odd man rush as Mick beat Dustin Nikkel giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 13:41 Coughlin and TJ Dumonceaux picked up the assists. This basically put the game out of reach for the Smoke Eaters. This was the first goal of three for the Vipers in less then four minutes. Just over a minute later Tyler Povolofskie tried finding Dexter Dancs but missed by a mile with the pass, Dancs was able to get to the puck along the wall before trying to feed Povolofskie who was going hard to the net but Dancs pass ended up going in off Trail d-man Joel Webb and into the back of the net giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead at 15:39 Povolofskie with the only assist on the goal. Just thirty seven seconds later Liam Coughlin with a beauty pass from behind the Smokies goal setup Michael McNicholas with a nice goal in front put Vernon ahead 5-0 at 17:11 Coughlin and Dexter Dancs with the helpers. From here on in the Vipers bascially ate a good solid minute or two off the clock with a strong forecheck deep in the Smoke Eaters zone before winding down the clock coming away with a 5-0 victory snapping a three game winless streak. The first ten minutes was basically even with Trail having two powerplays couldnt make things interesting. Playing with a short bench the Smokies couldnt hold off the Viper offence as Vernon scored three goals in less then four minutes putting the game away. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 19-12.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Josh Bryan played career game #200 I thought played a solid shutdown game on the Vernon blueline. Bryan was physical and played very well all night.
Liam Coughlin (1 goal & 2 assists) Had a strong game for the Vipers. Coughlin was really skating hard, going to the net and creating-generating chances all game. Was very hard to contain down low.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist) Had a heck of a game. Dumonceaux played with a ton of jump and energy was really flying most of the night. Was very good at both ends of the rink, very good on the penalty kill (getting a real good chance in the 2nd) busted his butt all night.
Brett Mulcahy played his best game as a Viper since coming over in a trade with Surrey just days before the BCHL trade deadline. I havnt been overly impressed with Mulcahy and Dylan Chanter yet but thought Mulcahy was very strong, especially in the 1st and 2nd periods. I didnt notice him much in the 3rd. Mulcahy with several good chances, was another player that was skating hard, going to the net and really working hard all night.
Austin Smith (32 saves-2nd Shutout of the season) Wearing his new equipment was very solid between the pipes after coming in for relief after Danny Todosychuk went down early and left the game with an injury. Smith made a handfull of big saves through out tonight's game was on his game and played very well. Was sharp, quick on his feet and didnt fight the puck or give out alot of rebounds. Kept the Vipers in the game at times when it was still scoreless.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers snapped their three game winless streak with a huge win tonight. Especially with Merritt and Salmon Arm coming away with wins. With just one win in their last six games heading into tonight's contest this was a big game for Vernon who needs to get some wins and in a hurry if they want to make the playoffs. The Vipers have been really struggling since mid December played one of their better games in a long time. Yes I know they beat Trail and I know its nothing to get too excited about but a wins a win and a big 5-0 victory tonight could go along way for a team like the Vipers. I thought this was a pretty good entertaining hockey game at times and thought the Vipers played a complete sixty minutes for the first time in a long time. I saw Vernon playing with alot more jump and energy in their game tonight, alot more compete in several players as well as team unity as both brendan Persley and Kenny Citron dropped the gloves sticking up for their team mates. Overall the team played with alot more step in their game and played like a much more tighter unit compared to the last handfull of games. The Vipers now have a tough three game schedule coming up starting tomorrow night in West Kelowna and then a home and home with one of the leagues best Langley Rivermen next weekend. All three games are going to be a huge test for Vernon. The Vipers are winless in their last seven road games and havnt won in West Kelowna in almost three years. If the Vipers want to make the playoffs and do damage in the playoffs, this team needs to start winning some games on the road, playing a full sixty minutes and playing with alot more consistancy.
Top Players: (Trail)
Jake Lucchini was by far Trails best player tonight. Can this kid skate and move the puck. Very quick on his feet can really get going and also is dangerous in and around the net, always creating and generating chances. Played very strong all night.
Brandon Volpe got under the skin of the Vipers early and often and played his role well getting the Vipers attention through out tonight's contest. Was causing a disturbance all night.
Sheldon Brett another kid who can really skate, played hard and worked hard most of the night. Didnt get the puck much but was always involved in the play. Battled and competed hard all game.
Bryan Basilico was another Smokies player who I thought played well and worked hard all night. Basilico's night was ended early after getting into a scrap with Kenny Citron in the 3rd period.
Dustin Nikkel (46 saves) Anytime a goaltender makes 40 plus saves I think he deserves a pat on the back. After the buzzer the Smokies come over to Nikkel to tap his pads saying thanks for holding them in the game. Nikkel didnt make alot of huge saves but faced alot of rubber tonight (51 shots) was really moving around alot at times, very quick on his feet played well giving his team a chance until Vernon put the game away in the 3rd.
Game Thoughts: (Trail)
With just fourteen skaters and two goaltenders you have to give the Smoke Eaters full credit for coming to the rink to play and play hard. With just nine wins and now two wins in their last twenty three games Trail battled and competed all night in a game where it was scoreless almost to the midway mark of the 2nd period. The Smokies held their own at times and gave the Vipers a good push but with only two lines you knew they couldnt hold on for long. The game was fairly even in the 1st before the Vipers slowly started to pull away in the 2nd scoring twice carrying the better of the play. Trail couldnt capitalize with the man advantage and also ran into a hot goaltender in Austin Smith who played very well at the other end of the rink. A pretty wide open game with lots of play going back and forth at times. I thought the Smokies played with a bit of an edge early, driving to the net hard crashing into Danny Todosychuk and Austin Smith in the 1st period and then hit TJ Dumonceaux with a check from behind in the third. The Smokies played hard but couldnt hold off the Viper offence running out of gas in the 3rd giving up three goals in less then four minutes. Its been a long tough season in Trail this season.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton (Injured)
Mason Blacklock (Injured)
Trail:
Adam Wheeldon
Riley Brandt
Jesse Knowler
Jackson Elynuik
Dylan Mascarin
Energy player of the game:
Jared Wilson (1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Austin Smith (37 saves-Shutout)
2nd Star: Liam Coughlin (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Dexter Dancs (1 goal & 2 assists)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1231510&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game and the Trail Smoke Eaters visit Josh Hoffman's Smoke Eaters blog,
http://trailsmokies.blogspot.ca/
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