Friday, March 7, 2014

Interior Division Semi-Final: Game 3 Vernon 6 West Kelowna 4

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 Interior Division Semi-Final Game 3 as Vernon defeated West Kelowna 6-4 in front of 1,492 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Austin Smith
West Kelowna: Andy Desautels

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start.  Vernon won the draw getting a quick shot on Warriors goaltender Andy Desautels before winning the battle along the boards down low to keep the puck in the West Kelowna zone.  The puck would come out front to Viper captain Ryan Renz whos shot was stopped by Desautels before Brendan Persley jumped on the rebound also being stopped by Desautels before Brett Mulcahy burried the rebound giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at :42 Persley and Renz picked up the assists.  The Warriors would respond with a hard working shift coming right back just over a minute later Adam Osczevski would get two wacks at the side of the net after a wrap around but couldnt beat Austin Smith down low.  The Vipers would get an early powerplay.  With good pressure and moving the puck around, Michael McNicholas was able to get off a quick shot from the circle that forced Desautels to make a quick pad save.  Desautels then made a tough save off a scramble in front with bodies in and around the net as the Warriors got some key saves from Desautels before killing off the penalty.  The Vipers looked very good were outshooting West Kelowna 10-4 seven minutes into the contest.  Matt Anholt went in on the two on one should have shot but tried feeding Reid Simmonds who couldnt handle the pass on a missed opportunity.  Vernon kept coming in waves as Logan Mick was stopped by Andy Desautels before Demico Hannoun burried the rebound giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 8:52 Mick and Josh Bryan collected the helpers.  Just shortly after Brendan Persley setup Brett Mulcahy on a two on one but Mulcahy couldnt beat Andy Desautels.  West Kelowna couldnt get anything going were being outskated, outworked and outhit all period as most of the play was in the Warriors zone.  Dexter Dancs carried the puck in over the West Kelowna zone before dishing off to Liam Coughlin who circled around the Warriors net come out front before going back door to Michael McNicholas who was stopped at the side of the goal.  The Vipers with a solid opening period were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.  The Vipers got the start they wanted, scored early and put pressure on the Warriors short lineup.  Vernon's speed and puck possesion caused alot of trouble for West Kelowna who had troubles keening in on the Vipers offence.  Vernon also played the body playing a physical period.  West Kelowna with very little opportunities had most of their shots from the outside that were easily handled by Austin Smith.  Vernon outshot West Kelowna 19-13.

2nd Period:  The Warriors got off to a good start to open the middle frame, West Kelowna with some early pressure had a few flurries in and around the Vernon net before Braden Pears jumped up into the zone to let go a quick low shot from inside the circle but couldnt beat Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith who closed the fivehole but looked behind to make sure the puck didnt squeak through.  On the following faceoff the Vipers would win the draw Demico Hannoun fed Logan Mick who looked to have a parcial breakaway wired a shot that was stopped by Warriors starting goaltender Andy Desautels before TJ Dumonceaux pounced on the rebound giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 2:54 Hannoun and Mick with the assists.  Desautels was having all kinds of trouble with his rebound control.  The Vipers would get a bit of a scare after Dexter Dancs was checked hard into the end boards behind the West Kelowna goal, Dancs was down for a few minutes needed the trainer before getting up and skating off to the bench.  Dancs was ok and stayed in the game.  Less then three minutes later Brendan Persley with a rocket of a shot beat Andy Desautels but hit the post before Brett Mulcahy scored on the rebound for his second of the night, giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead at 5:51 Persley & Colton Sparrow picked up the helpers.  The Vipers seemed to settle down for a few minutes as both teams started laying the body with some good checks before the Vipers kept getting the play in deep and just wearing down the Warriors along the boards, playing hard keeping the play in the West Kelowna end for most of the first half of the period.  West Kelowna would get their first powerplay of the night.  The Warriors man advantage didnt last very long before taking a penalty as both teams played some four on four before Vernon had a short powerplay.  The Warriors would kill off the penalty.  In the second half the Warriors would get a late five on three powerplay, with some good pressure the Warriors moved the puck around but didnt get alot of great opportunities.  David Pope with a rocket of a shot from the circle got through traffic in front was somehow gloved by Smith.  Vernon's defence and penalty kill was very good was able to kill off both penalties.  Just as the five on three come to an end the Vipers couldnt clear the zone, a strong battle going on in front of the Vernon net, Reid Simmonds was able to find the loose puck, put the puck past Austin Smith getting West Kelowna on the board late cutting the Viper lead to 4-1 at 18:28 Tyson Dallman and Kylar Hope picked up the assists.  Now correct me if im wrong, but when a player looses his helmet dosnt he have to skate off the ice imedietley? and if he dosnt and touches the puck, isnt this a penalty?  Well I thought so and Simmonds scored the goal with no helmet and the goal stood.  West Kelowna who was outplayed in the first half rallied with some momentum in the second half getting several shots on goal and getting within three looked a little better in the second half.  In the dying seconds Ben Tegtmeyer's point shot handcuffed Austin Smith as the Viper goaltender had to juggle the loose puck just before the buzzer on a close call.  Vernon was up 4-1 after 40 minutes of play.  West Kelowna with a much better start in this period, had some early pressure couldnt find the back of the net before giving up two back to back earl goals falling behind by four.  I thought the Vipers were the better team in the first half before a five on three the Warriors climbed back in shots and played a little better late in the second half.  West Kelowna outshot Vernon 14-9.

3rd Period:  The Warriors carried their momentum over from the 2nd period into the 3rd while Vernon up by three was sitting back on a three goal lead with still plenty of time to go.  West Kelowna got off to a quick start, David Pope was stopped before Carl Hesler in front scored on the rebound cut the Vernon lead to within two goals at 1:27 as the Vipers held a 4-2 lead.  Liam Blackburn and Pope with the assists.  The Vipers back on their heels were running around in circles having troubles clearing the zone as West Kelowna finally got their game going and were all over Vernon.  Michael McNicholas would get a breakaway just over five minutes in but was just touched by Ryan Fraser-Lee.  McNicholas was awarded a penalty shot but couldnt beat Andy Desautels who come up with a huge save keeping this game close.  The Vipers basically playing most of the period in their own end had all Viper fans on edge as Vernon couldnt get out of their own end or through the neutral zone.  The Warriors with all kinds of pressure, couldnt generate alot of great opportunities as Vernon was doing a good job at keeping the Warriors to the outside, most of West Kelowna's shots were from the outside with no rebounds.  Austin Smith was forced to make a few tough saves with traffic in front.  The Vipers would eventually get into the West Kelowna zone and come very close to re-taking a three goal lead after a scramble in front no Viper was able to handle the loose puck with an open cage in sight.  Shortly after Smith made a quick save off David Pope from the high slot as West Kelowna was once again putting all kinds of pressure on the Viper defence.  The Warriors hard work and pressure would eventually pay off after David Pope beat Austin Smith but hit the post before Carl Hesler setup Liam Blackburn at the side of the goal to get West Kelowna to within a goal at 16:16 Hesler and Pope with the helpers.  But just thirteen seconds later Brett Mulcahy and Brendan Persley on a two on one rush, Mulcahy kept and wired one past Andy Desautels giving Vernon a 5-3 lead at 16:29 Mulcahy with his third goal of the night and six in the last two games was unassisted.  Vernon would take an undisaplined penalty just after the big goal giving West Kelowna a late powerplay and the Warriors would capitalize.  Andy Desautels would head to the Warriors bench for the extra attacker giving West Kelowna a six on four.  Liam Blackburn with his second of the period made this a one goal game at 17:31 Ben Tegtmeyer and Carl Hesler with the assists.  The Warriors would once again pull Desautels with just under two minutes remaining and Vernon would get a strong hard working shift out of Demico Hannoun and Colton Sparrow, Hannoun ate a ton of seconds off the clock, by eating the puck along the end wall killing off some valuable time.  The Vipers had atleast three or four different looks at the empty net but decided to dump the puck in and risk firing wide of the open cage, before Brett Mulcahy would hit the open cage for his fourth goal of the night giving the Vipers a 6-4 lead at 19:40 Ryan Renz and TJ Dumonceaux with the assists.  A wild third period before the Vipers would hang on for the 6-4 win taking a 2-1 series lead.  West Kelowna who was basically outplayed most of the first two periods come out hard and really poured it on in the third, playing most of the period in the Vernon zone.  The Vipers who were sitting back on a three goal lead just about lost this game.  The Warriors outplayed, outskated and outworked the Vipers who made too many mistakes in their own end.  West Kelowna outshot Vernon 15-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Kenny Citron played a very physical yet defensive game most of the night.  Citron was laying the body looked very good.

Riley Guenther another d-man that I thought played very well this evening.  Guenther was very responsible with and without the puck, made alot of smart plays, really sees and reads the ice and plays well.

Tyler Povolofskie didnt see much ice in the third was really getting under the skin of several Warriors tonight.  It was Povolofskie who ran over Andy Desautels with just seconds left in Game 1 was playing super pest tonight, added some grit and energy tonight.

The line of TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist), Demico Hannoun (1 goal) and Logan Mick (2 assists) played very well.  Dumonceaux has been the Vipers most ebergized player all season and showed it again tonight, played with alot of jump, adds that speed and hustle to every shift is a real buzzsaw out there.  Mick who always plays hard played well tonight, made a few nice heads up plays added some spark and energy.  Hannoun was really skating hard, flying all night also added some energy and skill to this line.  Hannoun who I think hasnt played or looked that great since after the Christmas break played his best game since.  Really battled hard along the boards, had a key shift late in the game, ate some valuable minutes off the clock before the Vipers empty netter.

The line of Brett Mulcahy (4 goals), Colton Sparrow (1 assist) and Brendan Persley (2 assists) has been the Vipers best unit these playoffs.  Mulcahy now with seven goals in the last two games has really turned it up and playing at his best.  Had a heck of a game tonight, played well at both ends of the rink, was good on specialty teams as well as five on five.  Blocked a few shots.  Sparrow also worked hard, battled and competed and come to play in these playoffs.  Shows why he wears an "A" this season.  Persley who always plays hard has now started firing pucks on the net, this kid has a wicked shot and should shoot more.  Banging and crashing game after game, this kid is a workhorse. 

Austin Smith (38 saves)  Didnt look like he was going to see much rubber in the first two periods before West Kelowna's late five on three powerplay to end the 2nd period.  Smith was busy in the third making several big saves-key saves at times.  You couldnt blame him on any of the four goals. 

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers come ready to play and got off to a great start!  Scoring just fourty two seconds into the contest the Vipers got the first goal wich is always key before outplaying the Warriors in the opening period.  It was all Vernon who jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Warriors goaltender Andy Desautels was having troubles with his rebounds.  The Vipers were doing everything right outhitting, outskating, outworking and outplaying the Warriors for almost two full periods before having to kill off a late five on three.  West Kelowna would get a late goal to get on the board and gain some momentum heading into the 3rd when Vernon tried sitting back on a three goal lead wich didnt work for the most parts. The Vipers were caught running around in their own end, made several mistakes, coughed up the puck on several occassions couldnt clear the zone allowing the Warriors back in the game.  A wild 3rd with five goals coming from both teams kept everyone on the edge of their seats.  The Vipers would score a big key goal just thirteen seconds after the Warriors third goal to put them back up by two and then add the empty netter to hang on for the win.  I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams for almost two periods before having all kinds of troubles and getting outplayed in the 3rd.  The Vipers need to put teams away when they are up 4-0 and cant sit back defensively in the 3rd periods.  I dont think this team is good enough to sit on a one or two goal lead, there better off to keep skating, moving the puck, hitting and use their speed and skill up front.  How big is tomorrow's Game 4?

Top Players: (West Kelowna)

I thought the line of Matt Anholt, Reid Simmonds (1 goal) and Tyson Dallman (1 assist) was the Warriors best unit going tonight.  All three worked extremely hard, battled and competed all night.  Dallman can really read and see the ice well.  Always seems to make that pass finding a winger open.  Anholt and Simmonds both never stop battling and playing hard.

Carl Hesler (1 goal & 2 assists) Come to play in the third and picked up three points in a strong third period performance.  Hesler along with the rest of his mates wernt that noticable in the first two periods but stood out in the third.  Hesler who has played well against Vernon this season seems to always be in and around the net and finds those open players in front.  A good playmaker.

David Pope (2 assists) Another player who didnt really stand out in the first two periods but was involved in the play, had some looks and chances in the final frame played a good final period.

Liam Blackburn (2 goals & 1 assist) Also had a strong third period, involved in the play, scored two big goals to get West Kelowna back in the game.  Was always buzzing in and around the net.

Game Thoughts: (West Kelowna)

For the second straight game I didnt think West Kelowna was ready to play.  The Vipers looked hungrier and wanted it more, especially in the first two periods.  West Kelowna has fallen behind early the last two games and havnt been able to recover.  I know the Warriors have a short bench with sveral key-top players out of the lineup but they were outplayed for most of the first two periods.  West Kelowna was outskated, outworked, outhit and outplayed most of periods one and two before getting some late pressure and zone time on a late five on three powerplay.  A late goal seemed to give the Warriors life heading into the 3rd where they dominated the play making it very interesting before falling short.  If West Kelowna would have played like they did in the third for most of the night, we could have seen a different outcome.  The Warriors looked a little tired at times and looked to be worn down in the first two periods.  Give West Kelowna credit, with a short bench and some "AP"s they didnt quit, battled and competed and played a heck of a third making a very exciting and nerve racking finish.  Lets see how the Warriors will respond and play in Game 4 tomorrow.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mark Hamilton (Injured)
Matty Saharchuk

West Kelowna:

Taki Pantziris
Seb Lloyd
Ryan Ivey
Adam Plant
Jason Cotton
Jordan Masters

Energy player of the game:

Demico Hannoun (1 goal)

Three Stars:

1st Star: Brett Mulcahy (4 goals)
2nd Star:  TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Carl Hesler (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=1312970&link=bchl

For more on the West Kelowna Warriors and tonight's game visit Jon Zacks Warriors blog,

http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/

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