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 Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 2-1 in front of 2,362 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Salmon Arm: Angus Redmond
1st Period: The Vipers come out hitting off the opening draw, laying out atleast two or three early checks before Linden Hora come very close to getting his first career BCHL goal was robbed by Angus Redmond who come across the crease to make a huge pad save just twenty two seconds into the contest. Vernon playing with lots of jump and energy early were buzzing created several good opportunities in the opening few minutes. Colton McCarthy who returned to the lineup after his two game suspension with a good look in front couldnt beat Redmond. Makenzie Bauer and Liam Finlay both with good chances couldnt open the scoring. The Vipers carried the better of the play early looked like the better team in the first half. Vernon playing very physical was outhitting the Silverbacks often. Liam Finlay setup Riley Brandt who couldnt beat Angus Redmond. On the same play back come Salmon Arm with very little puck possession in the first half would get their first scoring opportunity after Thomas Plese with a good chance in front couldnt beat Danny Todosychuk. The Vipers carried the play and were the better of the two teams in the first half before the Backs would get the games first powerplay just before the midway mark. Todosychuk had to be sharp made two or three quick saves from in close off the start of the man advantage before Vernon was able to kill off the minor. Just before the penalty expired Salmon Arm took a penalty with just seconds remaining in their PP giving Vernon their first look with the man advantage. The Vipers moved the puck around before setting up Thomas Aldworth at the faceoff dot ripped a hard high shot that beat Redmond but couldnt beat the crossbar. The Vipers had lots of puck possession but had troubles getting shots on net as SA would kill off the penalty. Tempers heated up in hurry as several little scrums formed through out the period in and after the stopage in play as both teams got involved in some pushing and shoving. Just as the Silverbacks penalty expired the Backs would jump on their second powerplay of the night. Just three seconds into the PP Phil Middleton's slapper from the point beat Danny Todosychuk low along the ice fivehole give Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 13:24 Ross Heidt with the assist. The Silverbacks gained some life and a little momentum got their game going as now the Backs slowly started to carry the play and have the better of the play. The Backs come close to grabbing a two goal lead after Todosychuk made wich looked like a routine save have the puck hit and bounce off one of his defencemen in front come back towards the front of the net, had to be alert to make a second save off a rebound off another Viper. Salmon Arm with not alot of grade "A" chances did have the better of the play but didnt generate alot of good offensive opportunities. Nicholas Rasovic with a great chance with a minute to go couldnt beat Redmond in close. It was 1-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play. Vernon with a good start come out hitting out of the gates, had good pressure and a flurry of chances couldnt capitalize. The Vipers carried the edge in play and outplayed the Backs for most of the first half. The Silverbacks got off to a bit of a slow start, got the all important first goal of the game turned their game around in the second half and outplayed the Vipers. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-9.
2nd Period: The Silverbacks with a quick started jumped on the Vipers early. Vernon looking a little sluggish off the start had troubles clearing the zone early. The Vipers would get an early powerplay but it would be Taylor Maruya setting up Shane Danyluk on a two on one rush, Danyluk had the entire top half of the net open somehow missed the open cage on a missed shorthanded opportunity. The Vipers couldnt capitalize as the penalty expired the Backs caught the Vipers napping come back the other way on a four on one but couldnt get a pass through the slot. A few minutes later Colton McCarthy and Andrew Farny got tangled up along the side boards. McCarthy hit Farny who went down and didnt get up, needed help off the ice putting pressure on just one leg. Once to the Salmon Arm bench it looked like Farny fell before needing several team mates to help walk him to the teams dressing room. Farny looked to be cut on the leg area and was bleeding. A doctor was called over the PA system to the Silverbacks dressing room. Farny did not return to the hockey game. (I heard around the rink that Farny got a cut on his lower leg-ankle area having a tendon cut with a skate). On the play a scrum formed in and around Farny. In the end the Backs would come out with the PP. The Vipers with a good penalty kill would kill off the minor. Just past the halfway mark Vernon on a man advantage looked to have tied the game after a quick shot from the high slot looked to hit Angus Redmond before landing in the crease. With a mad scramble the Vipers looked to put the puck up and over a down and out Redmond. With players everywhere in the crease the goal light and goal horn went on before the referee immediately put his hands in the air waived off the goal. The referee and linesmen gathered around the penalty box to disscus the call before saying it was not a goal. The play-Vernon powerplay carried on before SA would kill off the remainder of the penalty. The Vipers kept coming didnt generate a whole lot of good scoring chances did manage a few looks couldnt beat Redmond. The Silverbacks would get a late powerplay as both teams seemed to exchange powerplays back and forth most of this period. The Backs couldnt capitalize as Vernon killed off the penalty. In the final minute and a half the Vipers had all kinds of trouble clearing the zone, as the Silverbacks with a late surge couldnt take a two goal lead into the third. It was 1-0 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks got off to a quick start had lots of jump early were all over Vernon before the Vipers would get an early powerplay. From here on in both teams went back and forth on the man advanateg as neither team could capitalize with the powerplay. Salmon Arm with a good chance shorthanded missed a wide open cage before the Vipers looked to tie the game but the goal was waived off. The Vipers now with eight straight periods and no goals against Angus Redmond. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-4.
3rd Period: Vernon would get an early powerplay and finally score their first goal on Angus Redmond in three games. Luke Shiplo's shot beat Redmond fivehole with traffic in front tying the game 1-1 at 1:53 Brandon Egli with the helper. The Vipers with a huge boost started rolling carried the play early had some nice setups in front either couldnt hit the net or couldnt beat Redmond. Liam Finlay with a nice setup spotted Riley Brandt who couldnt beat Redmond. The Vipers coming on strong looked good early. Salmon Arm responded with a good push back as now the play really started to open up. Both teams going back and fourth with good action at both ends of the rink. Not alot of great scoring plays but both teams got the odd opportunity here and there. Neither team was willing to give an inch as in behind the play both teams got a little chippy as tempers heated at times. In the second half the Vipers slowly started to come on and be a little more aggresive. Vernon now slowly starting to carry the play come on strong to finish the frame. Late in the period the Vipers with three real good chances just missed the net from in close as the crowd was buzzing. With 1:48 remaining Thomas Aldworth setup TJ Dumonceaux who put the puck past Angus Redmond giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 18:12 as Kal Tire Place erupted. Aldworth with the lone assist. Salmon Arm would call a timeout on the following play getting Angus Redmond to the bench for the extra attacker. Liam Coughlin, Thomas Aldworth and TJ Dumonceaux all with great looks at the open net missed before an icing call Redmond would come back into the game before going back to the bench for another six on five. Salmon Arm with no real pressure in the offensive zone would run out of time as the Vipers would hang on for the 2-1 victory. Vernon with a good start to the third finally capitalized on an early powerplay. The Vipers looked very good in the first few minutes before both teams played very hard and were very evenlly matched. The Vipers come on strong in the second half scored the game winner late and hung on for the win. The Vipers with the better scoring chances, had a good push to finish the game. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 17-10.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Riley Guenther played a very smooth and confident game tonight. Was very good at clearing the zone, moving the puck up ice in a hurry, played with alot of poise tonight.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal) Played with alot of jump tonight, was really skating hard, played the body, finished his checks was strong on the penalty kill and good in his own end.
Mackenzie Bauer I thought played very well up front for Vernon. Bauer has really come along the last few weeks and played well as of late. I really liked Bauer's game in Penticton Wednesday thought he come back with another strong performance tonight.
Linden Hora with atleast two good scoring chances, is still looking for his first goal of the season. Hora played very well was strong on the puck and the forecheck, competed, was going to the net, had some looks.
Luke Shiplo (1 goal) Seems like this kid is a star on the Viper blueline almost every game. I really liked Shiplo in the win over Penticton this week played well again tonight.
Nicholas Rasovic had another strong game this evening, played hard, was strong on the wall and the forecheck. Plays with an edge was very good for the Vipers the last two games.
Liam Finlay and Riley Brandt played well together, seemed to have alot of chemistry going tonight, both setting one another up. Finlay and Brandt were both skating hard, creating and generating chances. Brandt with a very hard working game, played well at both ends of the rink is really coming into his own.
Danny Todosychuk (24 saves) Making his third straight start played very well between the pipes. Didnt have to make nearly as many saves as in the 2-1 win in Penticton Wednesday night still had to be sharp tonight. Was good with his rebounds, played his position well. Im not sure if he was screened or just a late reaction but I think he may want the Silverbacks lone goal of the night back.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
The Vipers come away with a second straight hard fought 2-1 victory and get their first win in three games over Salmon Arm. I thought the Vipers looked very good in the first half of the 1st period couldnt capitalize on some good chances early. Vernon carried most of the play in the 2nd period but didnt generate a whole lot of good chances. The Vipers struggled with the powerplay tonight, until Luke Shiplo's PP goal early in the 3rd. The Vipers waisted alot of time on the man advantage passing the puck around, were not getting a quick one timer off in time for a good quality chance. I thought the Vipers really stepped up their play in the 3rd and were the better of the team at times. I thought Vernon played physical in the opening period wasnt as physical in the last two periods was the more physical team. The Viper defence struggled at times in their own end, had troubles clearing the zone-getting out of their own end. I dont think both teams had alot of great chances played more defensively. This was a good game to watch, very entertaining. The Vipers get two big back to back wins over teams they have had their troubles with this season. These last two games have looked alot like a playoff style of game. Two big wins will give this team some confidence and team moral heading into the playoffs. Im really looking forward to seeing the Nanaimo Clippers tomorrow night. Former Vipers Head Coach-GM Mike Vandekamp makes his return to Vernon with the 1st place Clippers who lost 4-2 in Penticton tonight.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Phil Middleton (1 goal) Had a strong game on the Silverbacks blueline. Middleton who played well against Vernon two weeks ago plays hard, is good at both ends of the rink. Plays hard, good with his feet, moves the puck well, joins the play alot and gets involved in the play.
Jordan Burns saw alot of icetime and played well. Another d-man that likes to get involved in the play, moves the puck well, a good skater, not the biggest kid but isnt afraid to get involved in the after the whistler activities.
Ryley Booth I thought played well, played with an edge. Seemed to be getting under the skin of a few former teammates through out the game.
Josh Blanchard was really skating, involved in the play. Was good up front for the Backs.
Taro Hirose has played well against the Vipers all season, I thought got better as the game went on. Really noticed him in the 3rd.
Bryden Marsh Your Silverbacks captain laid out a few big hits, played hard, didnt back down and was in mucking and grinding all night.
Angus Redmond (34 saves) Went eight solid periods of shutout hockey vs the Vipers gave up his first goal against Vernon early in the 3rd was again solid between the pipes. Both goaltenders played very well tonight. Redmond who like Todosychuk didnt have alot of action did make some big saves through out the game gave his team a chance to win. Got lucky on a few saves but you have to be good to be lucky.
Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks six game winning streak comes to an end after a 2-1 loss tonight. A big blow losing Andrew Farny. Could be out a while and a huge hole to fill on the blueline. Give this team alot of credit, they played a very hard fought game, just like Vernon gave the Vipers a good run. Neither team gave up alot but also didnt get alot. Just like the game in Salmon Arm on January 31st it looked like one goal tonight could stand out to be the winner. The Backs with a strong defensive game were really clogging up the neutral zone and the front of the net. The Silverbacks didnt back down as tempers heated on several occassions. Salmon Arm played hard, didnt give the Vipers alot of room were good on the penalty kill limiting Vernon's shots, getting in the shooting lanes covered alot of lanes. This was anybody's game to win. The season series is now tied 3-3-1 with the final game going in Salmon Arm next Saturday. This could be a playoff preview for the opening round of the playoffs.
Scratches:
Blaine Caton (Injured)
Anthony Latina (Suspended)
Luke Voltin (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Anthony Gardner
Logan Mick (Injured)
Jack Berezan
Energy player of the game:
Riley Brandt
Three Stars:
1st Star: TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal)
2nd Star: Luke Shiplo (1 goal)
3rd Star: Angus Redmond (34 saves)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358496&link=bchl
Ian Douglas's Salmon Arm Silverbacks Blog,
https://backstalk.wordpress.com/
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