Saturday, January 31, 2015

Salmon Arm 1 Vernon 0

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-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 1-0 in front of 1,960 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Salmon Arm: Angus Redmond

1st Period: The Silverbacks would get the games first good chance just a few minutes into the game after Taro Hirose looked to have a great opportunity at an open cage on the wrap around just wasnt fast enough to get around the back of the net before Brandon Egli was there to get the puck away from Hirose.  The Vipers started with alot more jump and energy after not showing much in last night's 3-0 loss to Salmon Arm.  Both teams come out strong to start the game as the play was fairly even going back and fourth.  Danny Todosychuk was forced to make his first tough save of the evening after a shot from the circle was stopped with traffic going to the net, as the Viper goaltender was forced to hold the puck just over six minutes into the game.  Very little scoring chances in the first half as the play was even with no real team getting alot of sustained pressure.  Johnny Coughlin with a big check on Shane Danyluk at the blueline, as Danyluk looked to be in some discomfort was slow getting off the ice.  Danyluk was looked at by the trainer but stayed in the game.  With six and a half minutes remaining Brandon Egli would get the Vipers first good look and chance of the period after ripping a quick hard shot from the slot was stopped by Angus Redmond.  On the following shift Vernon would get the games first powerplay.  The Vipers unable to generate much of an attack couldnt capitalize with the man advantage.  About a minute and a half later Salmon Arm would open the scoring late in the frame.  Phil Middleton jumped up into the play got two wacks at the puck at the side of the net banged home the loose puck giving the Silverbacks a 1-0 lead at 18:16 Thomas Plese and Taylor Maruya collected the assists.  It stayed 1-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play.  The Vipers with a much better start responded well in the opening frame really come to play.  Vernon playing with alot more jump and energy were banging and crashing, worked hard and competed in the opening frame.  Salmon Arm also played a good hard nosed opening frame, both teams battled with very little scoring chances in a fairly evenly matched opening period.  Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-9.

2nd Period: Both teams were once again keeping pace with one another as the play was back and fourth in the opening few minutes.  Viper captain Riley Guenther with a long dump in shot from just past centre handcuffed Angus Redmond who went down on his knees made the save but looked to misplay or misshandle the shot as the puck almost snuck behind the Silverbacks goaltender who was forced to cover the puck and wait for a whistle.  Just over five or so minutes into the middle frame Vernon would create and generate some offence.  Liam Finlay with two good chances at the side of the net couldnt bang the loose puck home past Redmond.  The Vipers slowly started to carry the play getting some good pressure inside the Backs blueline.  Linden Hora from the slot was stopped by Redmond as the Vipers were coming on.  Vernon with several good looks had the edge in play for most of the first half.  The Vipers played a very physical 2nd period laying out some big hits.  Nick Hutchinson, Taylor Maruya and Joshua Laframboise all went down and were slow to get up.  Hutchinson took the biggest of the hits went straight to the Silverbacks dressingroom where he was attended on before returning to the game.  The Vipers would then get into a bit of a scrum behind Danny Todosychuk.  Mitch Meek dropped the gloves went after Carson Bolduc, Meek was given the extra penalty giving Salmon Arm their first powerplay of the night.  The Backs with real good pressure forced Todosychuk into making several key saves while on the penalty kill.  The Viper goaltender come up big as Vernon was able to kill off the minor.  Vernon would get into penalty trouble as the Silverbacks would get three straight powerplays.  SA with lots of good pressure moved the puck around couldnt capitalize.  A shot from the point looked to come back off the end glass went off the top of the net before bouncing into the corner on a very close call.  The Silverbacks would call a timeout to try and draw up a game plan.  Chase Priskie walked in from the point ripped a high hard shot that forced Danny Todosychuk to come up with a huge glove save keeping this a one goal game.  On the following faceoff Priskie wound up from the other side of the blueline and again was stopped by Todosychuk who made two big back to back glove saves.  The Vipers and Danny Todosychuk come up with a big penalty kill killing off all three penalties.  Due to three straight powerplays the Silverbacks carried the play and had more puck possession in the second half couldnt capitalize.  Salmon Arm was up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play.  The Vipers with a strong start to the period had some real good quality chances, carried the better of the play in the first half, had lots of pressure couldnt tie the game.  Salmon Arm would get three straight powerplays in the second half of the frame couldnt put this game away went 0-3 with the man advantage had most of the play due to all the penalties in the second half.  Shots were even 11-11.

3rd Period: A ten to fifteen minute delay delayed the final period as Danny Todosychuk and the Vipers were complaining about the ice in front of the Vernon goal.  A rink crew come out to try and scrape the ice before the zamboni was called out to re-clean the ice in front of the Viper net.  Both teams were then sent onto the ice for a quick lap or two before the 3rd period got underway.  The Vipers would get a great opportunity in the opening minute to tie the game.  Liam Coughlin went in on the two on one setup TJ Dumonceaux who couldnt get a good enough shot off whiffed on his shot as Angus Redmond made the fairly routine save.  Down 1-0 Vernon started to get going early and carried alot of the play.  Not generating alot of chances early the Vipers had more puck possession couldnt generate much offence.  Salmon Arm was doing a great job at shutting Vernon's offensive players down played a dump and chip 3rd period.  With seven minutes remaining Vernon would get a great opportunity with a PP.  Moving the puck around the Vipers setup Luke Shiplo who beat Angus Redmond but hit the post as the Vipers couldnt buy a goal.  Thomas Aldworth lost the puck in the neutral zone allowing Josh Blanchard to steal the loose puck, went in for the breakaway was stopped by Danny Todosychuk who made a huge save as the puck looked to go between Todosychuk's legs come out the other end and into the corner.  The Backs thought they had scored as the play was blown dead with several Silverbacks players going after the referee.  Aldworth was given a hooking penalty wich put both teams four on four.  The Backs would get a shortened powerplay were unable to capitalize as the Vipers would kill off the remainder of Aldworth's minor.  With time winding down the Vipers poured on the pressure come up with several great chances in front.  Nick Hutchinson with a strong defensive play dove across the front of the goal to break up a Viper pass.  With less then three minutes to go a mad scramble in front of the Silverbacks net the loose puck was bouncing around come out front Liam Finlay couldnt get his stick on the loose puck for a shot at the net.  A shot from in close beat Angus Redmond went off the crossbar as the Vipers were pressing.  Vernon would call a timeout with 2:05 to go would eventually get Todosychuk to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:52 to go.  Liam Finlay alone at the side of the net just missed the far corner on wich looked like a sure goal.  The Vipers pressing were going hard to the net, throwing pucks in front couldnt buy a break.  Salmon Arm collapsing down low couldnt clear the front of the net would eventually clear the zone before Shane Danyluk just missed the open cage as the puck went off the post.  The Silverbacks would get the puck deep into the Vernon zone in the dying seconds would hold on as the buzzer would sound coming away with back to back shutout victories over the Vipers with a 1-0 win as the Silverbacks poured onto the ice.  The Vipers with a strong period slowly started to come on as the period went along.  Vernon didnt generate alot of chances early would get lots of good looks and opportunities late in the frame couldnt buy a goal come very close on several plays.  The Vipers carried most of the play were all over the Silverbacks in the final twenty minutes.  Salmon Arm who didnt have much puck possession played a very tight defensive game hung on for the huge win.  Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 6-3.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Brandon Egli I thought played a very hard earned defensive game.  Egli was very strong in the defensive zone, made several big defensive plays. 

The line of Mitchell Oliver, Blaine Caton & Linden Hora I thought played a very strong game, really battled and competed all night.  These three played a real hard nosed game, got involved in the play, didnt back down from the physical play, had some good shifts, played with alot of spark.

Colton McCarthy I thought played a very physical, hard nosed game.  Really battled down low, was hard to play against.  Played with alot of energy, was really hustling.

Johnny Coughlin was another defenceman that played very well on the backend.  Looked confident, moved the puck well, didnt panic, made some very smart plays at both ends of the rink.

Danny Todosychuk (22 saves) Has played really well the last two games.  Made some very key yet big saves while on the penalty kill in the 2nd period.  Salmon Arm with back to back to back powerplays in the second half of the middle frame couldnt beat Todosychuk who was the Vipers best penalty killer.  Gave his team a chance to win tonight.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

A tough loss after the Vipers responded and come back with a much better effort and performance tonight.  The Vipers who didnt play or look very good last night really come to play tonight and battled hard.  Vernon has now been shutout in back to back games.  I really liked the Vipers compete level, I thought the Vipers were by far the more physical team, especially in the 2nd period.  Three huge hits laid out three different Salmon Arm players.  Vernon come ready to play and it showed, the Vipers played with alot more jump and energy had lots of intensity tonight.  Didnt generate a whole lot of chances in the 1st had a good start to the 2nd period before getting into penatly trouble.  A great 3rd really poured on the pressure couldnt get a break or bounce for the game tying goal.  The Vipers had lots of good quality chances late, could have easily tied the game.  This was anybodys game.  Don Klepp said on the post game show on the radio that the Vipers got well more then six shots on goal in the 3rd.  Tonight was the first game of a six game road trip. 

Top Players: (Salmon Arm)

Phil Middleton (1 goal) Played very well on the Backs blueline.  Very steady, saw lots of ice, jumped into the play on occasion was solid.

Chase Priskie who played very well last night, had another strong game tonight.  Unloaded a quick shot on the man advantage couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk who made back to back glove saves off the SA D-man.

Ryley Booth played well against his former team.

Bryden Marsh was really flying, skating hard, moving the puck, was dangerous.  The Silverbacks captain was hard to contain most of the night.

Taylor Maruya (1 assist) Looked very good, was another kid who was really flying, skating hard, super quick on his feet, gave the Vipers trouble.  Works and competes hard.

Angus Redmond (27 saves-shutout) Picked up his 5th shutout of the season and second in two games.  Redmond who didnt see alot of action last night was forced to make a few more difficult saves tonight.  Got some help from his defence and the post/crossbar was very solid between the pipes. 

Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)

After losing three straight the Salmon Arm Silverbacks pick up two huge back to back shutout victories over a tough Vernon Vipers hockey club.  Salmon Arm is now just two points back of West Kelowna & Merritt who are both tied in points for 3rd-4th place.  The Backs play the Warriors Friday in wich will be another big game for both clubs.  Tonight was a heck of a hockey game as both teams played hard, competed and made for one heck of an entertaining game, wich was well worth the drive down.  Salmon Arm didnt generate alot of offence sorta like Vernon but played very well defensively.  The Backs didnt box out the Vipers as much as they did last night still shutdown the Vipers top two lines.  Playing a dump and chip style of game come the 3rd the Backs may have got a little too comfortable in their own end may have got lucky on a few plays to keep the puck out of their net.  This game was very close and pretty evenly matched for the first two periods but it was all Vipers in the 3rd.  If you dont think this was a huge win-game for the Silverbacks, just look how they erupted at the buzzer pouring off the ice to congratulate Angus Redmond.  These two wins this weekend could go a long way for a team, give them confidence, momentum and add some unity to the group and dressingroom.  If the Backs get into the playoffs, watchout, they could be a surprise and maybe upset a team or two if they play like this.  Great to see a full rink, standing room only.  First time in a long time!  A great crowd and a great game! 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mackenzie Bauer (Concussion)
Luke Voltin (Injured)
(Assistant Coach) Eric Godard

Salmon Arm:

Anthony Gardner
Logan Mick (Injured)

Energy player of the game:

Taylor Maruya

Three Stars:

1st Star: Angus Redmond (27 saves-shutout)
2nd Star: Danny Todosychuk (22 saves)
3rd Star: Phil Middleton (1 goal)

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358459&link=bchl

Ian Douglas's Salmon Arm Silverbacks Blog,

https://backstalk.wordpress.com/
   

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