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-Express game as Coquitlam defeated Vernon 4-3 in overtime in front of 1,697 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Coquitlam: Tyger Howat
1st Period: Just twenty four seconds into the period the Vipers setup Jagger Williamson alone in front who was stoned by Tyger Howat who come out to challenge made a big save off the opening faceoff. The Vipers come out flying jumped on the Express early. Jimmy Lambert & Riley Brandt with two good opportunities early as Vernon was buzzing in the Coquitlam zone before getting the games first powerplay. The Vipers would capitalize after Riley Brandt was stopped Jimmy Lambert put home the rebound giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 5:35 Brandt & Mitchell Oliver with the assists. Coquitlam needed almost three minutes to get their first shot on goal as the Express were having troubles finding their legs and getting any kind of zone time. The Vipers were all over the Express outshooting them 6-1 at one point. Vernon showing their speed and skill were creating and generating chances in and around the net. The Vipers carried the play for most of the first half before the Express would finally get the play deep in the Vernon zone. Jarrod Schamerhorn who didnt see alot of rubber in the first half had to be sharp was forced into making back to back saves from in close before Brett Stapley come close to putting the puck into his own net. The Express would get their first PP just past the halfway mark and capitalize. Jarell Pinchuk's shot from the point was redirected in front by Erik Udahl beating Schamerhorn fivehole tying the game 1-1 at 12:29 Pinchuk and Jackson Cressey collected the helpers. Just seconds later the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the frame but unable to re-gain the lead. The play then slowed down before Coquitlam would get their legs going and look a little better late in the second half. Coquitlam would grab their first lead of the night after Jackson Cressey beat Jarrod Schamerhorn on the wrap around giving the Express a 2-1 lead at 18:06 Colton Kerfoot with the assist. In the dying seconds the Vipers would get a very late PP wich would carry into the 2nd period. Coquitlam was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon with a strong start jumped on the Express scored first early into the period with a powerplay marker. The Vipers were all over Coquitlam had some chances were the better team for most of the period. The Express had troubles containing Vernon's speed and skill. The Express who were chasing the Vipers most of the frame had very little zone time did manage to score twice to take the lead. Coquitlam didnt generate much for offensive opportunities capitalized on their chances. Captain Jackson Cressey was involved in alot of the after the whistle activities, seemed to always be exchanging words with a different Viper player each time. Coquitlam with four chances the entire opening period scored on two of them. The Express did play a little better in the second half were still outplayed and outshot 12-8.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the period with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 1st period. It didnt take Vernon long to tie the game after Bo Pellah's shot from the blueline was redirected in front by captain Colton McCarthy tying the game 2-2 at 1:14 Pellah and Odeen (formerly known as Peter) Tufto picked up the assists. On the following shift Vernon would lay out a huge hit along the boards in the Express zone before Jonathan Irving come in laying out a big crosscheck on a Viper player before tempers heated up in a hurry. Some pushing and shoving occurred after Colton McCarthy & Taylor Green exchanged some punches. Vernon would come out of the melay with the man advantage, their fourth powerplay of the evening. But it was Coquitlam with the best opportunity after Cameron Bertsch broke out on an odd man rush, setup captain Jackson Cressey who went in alone for a parcial breakaway was denied by Vipers starting goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn. The Express would kill off the minor. For a second straight period the Vipers carried the edge in play and were the better of the two teams. The Vipers with a few good chances couldnt grab the lead. Austin Cho carried the play up ice before getting off a quick shot just inside the blueline couldnt beat Tyger Howat. Jimmy Lambert down low couldnt stuff one home as the Vipers were coming on. As the period went on the pace slowed down a little with both teams not giving up alot of open ice. Coquitlam again didnt generate alot of offence, played most of the period in their own end. With the game still tied Vernon would get another look with the PP but couldnt find the back of the net. Just after the powerplay expired Coquitlam would get a shot with the man advantage. Moving the puck around a quick shot from the point would get tipped in front by Taylor Green who tried shovelling the puck home past Schamerhorn who looked behind him. Nicholas Coltura with a good look at the net couldt get one past the Vipers goaltender as the Express with two good chances couldnt capitalize. Late in the frame with just over two minutes remaining Charlie Barrow with a great opportunity wired a low shot from the slot forced Jarrod Schamerhorn into making a toe save with his right pad to keep this game tied. This was Schamerhorn's best save of the night. It was toed 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. For a second straight period Vernon outplayed and outchanced the Express but only managed one goal, wich was in the opening minute on the man advantage. The Express who didnt generate much for offence didnt get alot of opportunities. Vernon outshot Coquitlam 13-9.
3rd Period: About a twenty five minute delay to the start of the third period after something happened to the zamboni. The zamboni made one loop around the rink before leaving the ice after having some kind of problem. The zamboni would return and clean the ice before both teams would return for the start of the period. Off the opening faceoff Steven Jandric with a great look at the net in front, went hard to the goal couldnt beat Express starting goaltender Tyger Howat. Vernon come out strong, getting three great opportunities in the first few minutes. Jimmy Lambert couldnt give the Vipers a lead and then a quick shot from the corner forced Howat to make a tough looking save, keeping this game tied. Colton McCarthy then tried setting up Jimmy Lambert on an odd man rush who again couldnt beat the Coquitlam goaltender. After some great chances the Express would grab their second lead of the night. Jarrod Schamerhorn made the first stop off Jarell Pinchuk before stopping Cameron Bertsch but couldnt stop Jackson Cressey on the rebound who gave Coquitlam a 3-2 lead at 3:00 Bertsch & Pinchuk with the assists. Just two and a half minutes later both teams would exchange powerplays but neither team could take advantage with the extra man. Jackson Cressey had a great chance in close on the man advantage couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn down low. At the midway mark the Vipers looked to get a second powerplay, but it was Coquitlam who suckered Hunter Zandee into taking a penalty evening up the play. Vernon for a third straight period were all over the Express as the Vipers with several chances couldnt tie the game. Vernon who couldnt get a break couldnt beat Howat who was keeping his team in the game. Coquitlam on the other hand couldnt muster any kind of offence, played most of the period in their own end. It seemed like the only time the Express had any kind of zone time was on the man advantage. Riley Brandt with a great opportunity to tie the game with just over six minutes to go found himself in front of the net alone shot high and over the goal on a missed opportunity. Just shortly after Hunter Zandee setup Joe Sacco in front who burried the puck home tying the game 3-3 at 14:49 sending Kal Tire Place into a frenzy. Zandee and Jagger Williamson picked up the helpers. Less then two minutes later Coquitlam would get a late PP. The Express with some good pressure had a few hard working shifts couldnt muster much for grade A chances couldnt capitalize. Both teams would exchange timeouts late in the contest. It would stay tied 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. The Vipers once again outplayed the Express, this period Vernon dominated the entire frame were all over Coquitlam. Tyger Howat gave his team a chance for the win and basically got them the single point making 19 saves in the third. The Vipers with several good chances only mustered one goal. The Express who didnt see much time in the Viper zone capitalized on one of their very limited opportunities. Vernon outshot Coquitlam 20-10.
Overtime: Neither team could get much going early in the extra frame before Riley Brandt would get a great look at the net after Jimmy Lambert setup the former Trail Smoke Eater who was going hard to the net was stopped by Howat, the puck would stay loose come back to the point where Mitchell Oliver leaned into one but was stopped by Howat who covered up the fivehole making two big saves in OT. On the following shift the Express capitalized on a Viper turnover deep in their own end, Austin Mcllmurray broke free before ripping a high shot blocker side past Jarrod Schamerhorn giving the Express a 4-3 overtime win, as the Coquitlam bench erupted onto the ice. Very few opportunities until Riley Brandts and then a turnover inside the Vernon zone lead to the Express winning goal. Coquitlam outshot Vernon 2-1.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Austin Cho I thought played his best game as a Viper, just four games into the season. I thought Cho had a strong game, got involved in the play, jumped up into the rush, carried the puck, had a few shots on goal, getting atleast two good chances on goal also played very well on the Vernon blueline.
Bo Pellah (1 assist) Was another defenceman that I thought played his best game this season. A very smooth skating d-man made some very slick moves with and without the puck this evening. Saw alot of minutes on the backend was very strong tonight at both ends of the rink.
Riley Brandt (1 assist) Had a strong game in the loss to Penticton Wednesday, I thought played very well again tonight. Brandt missing on two golden opportunities, one in the 3rd and second in overtime was skating, going to the net, worked hard all night.
Liam Finlay turned up the jets tonight, was skating, really using his speed to move in and out of Coquitlam defenders was hard to contain through out the game. Finlay with some nice plays setup several chances.
Jimmy Lambert (1 goal) Had a strong game up front for Vernon. Was going to the net, played hard, competed and had some good chances through out the game.
Darren Rizzolo has really impressed me so far in the two games Ive seen him play this year. Saw alot of icetime, played in all situations, looked very confident on the backend. This kid plays and looks very mature for his age, plays like a veteran 19-20 yr old out there.
Mac Ferner returned to the Viper lineup after serving his two game suspension had a solid game on the blueline.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
Ive seen three of Vernon's four games and tonight I thought was the Vipers best game they have played this season. I really liked the start, I thought the Vipers jumped on Coquitlam early and often. Scored the games first goal were really skating, using their team speed, moving the puck well, had several good chances. I thought Vernon outplayed and outchanced the Express in the first three periods but couldnt capitalize or bury their chances. If Vernon scores two or three in the 1st period this may have been a different game. The Vipers needed that next goal they couldnt seem to muster in order to put away the Express. It seemed like the Vipers would get a flurry of chances or carry the play for a long period of time, couldnt score before the Express would come back the other way, get one or two shots and find the back of the net. This was just how the night went. The Vipers passing was much better compared to Wednesday's loss in Penticton. The Vipers looked much better on the PP, scored two powerplay goals tonight. I thought everyone come ready to play, played hard and deserved a better fait. The Vipers who worked hard, played hard didnt get any breaks tonight. A tough loss on home ice where they have yet to win this season. Former Vernon Laker-Viper Troy Mick was at tonight's game.
Top Player's: (Coquitlam)
Nicholas Coltura had a solid night on defence. Was hard to beat one on one, played his position well.
Jarell Pinchuk (2 assists) Was another d-man that played very well for Coquitlam. Picking up two helpers was involved in the play, was getting pucks to the net.
Jackson Cressey (2 goals & 1 assist) The Express captain played with an edge, was always involved after the whistle, liked to stir things up, exchanged words with several Viper players. Was one of Coquitlam's better players. A good skater, can skate, move the puck well and get up ice in a hurry. Goes to the net, reads and sees the ice very well. Makes the most of his opportunities, capitalized on his chances.
Erik Udahl (1 goal) Was another kid who had a strong game, was skating hard, competed and played hard through out the game.
Tyger Howat (43 saves) Gave his team a chance to win. Played very well between the pipes made the saves when needed. Didnt have to make any real huge highlight type saves but kept the puck out for the most parts. Had troubles with his rebounds and puck control but other then that a bigger goaltender who covers alot of the net, made things difficult for the Viper shooters.
Game Thought's: (Coquitlam)
The Coquitlam Express pick up their first win in Vernon since before the 2003-04 season. The Express last victory in Vernon was before 2003. Due to the league stats only going back as far as 2003 I dont know when they last won in Vernon. The Express were outplayed and outchanced all night, didnt deserve to win tonight's hockey game but give Coquitlam credit they battled hard defensively, got some big saves from their goaltender and scored-capitalized on their few opportunities to come away with the 4-3 overtime victory. This is a huge win as Coquitlam started the regular season on the road, tonight is game 3 of a four game road trip. The Express got off to a slow start, had trouble containing Vernon's speed and skill but were lucky enough to hang around long enough to tie the game before grabbing the lead heading into the 2nd period. The Express may have been outplayed but managed to hold off the Viper attack to one goal a period, this giving them a chance to stay in the game. Coquitlam had troubles generating offence all night, had very little zone time was very oportunistic scoring on their chances. The Express have some bigger bodies on their team, travel to Salmon Arm tomorrow.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Joe Cipollone
Andrew Shortridge
Coquitlam:
Jivan Sidhu
Troy Robillard
Michael Merulla
Braden Krogfoss
Energy player of the game:
Hunter Zandee (1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Jackson Cressey (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Austin Mcllmurray (Scored overtime winner)
3rd Star: Riley Brandt (1 assist)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477065&link=bchl
Eddie Gregory's Coquitlam Express Blog,
http://expressvoice.blogspot.ca/
Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Blog,
http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/
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