I have had season tickets for the past 28 years and been following Junior hockey in Vernon for close to thirty five years. I've missed only three home games since 1998-99 season. 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-Vees game as Vernon & Penticton drew a 2-2 tie in front of 2,421 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Ty Taylor
Penticton: Adam Scheel
1st Period: Just like last night, the Vees would get the games first powerplay early into the game. Tonight Penticton would jump on the PP just fourty eight seconds into the 1st. Grant Cruikshank wired a low shot from the circle, that forced Ty Taylor into making a huge pad save. The Penticton Vees would get four shots on the man advantage before taking a penalty of their own before the powerplay expired. A little four on four action before the Vipers would get their first look with the powerplay. Vernon struggled to get pucks to the net, needed just over five minutes to get their first shot of the hockey game. The Snakes couldn't get much of anything going with the PP as the Vees killed off the minor. Just over three minutes later Penticton would get their second look with the man advantage. Ty Taylor had to be sharp somehow made a big save off a goal mouth scramble as everyone was digging for the loose puck, before the Viper netinder smothered the puck. The Vipers would kill off the penalty. Just over a minute later the Vees back to the man advantage but again couldn't find the back of the net. The Vipers with another good penalty kill. Vernon would get their second look with the powerplay, inside the final two minutes. Former Kelowna Rockets forward Tanner Wishnowski ripped a low shot from the circle that just missed the far corner. Penticton was able to get out of the period. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. It seemed like most of if not all of the first half of the opening frame was specialty teams, as both teams were on the powerplay often. Both teams didn't generate many if any real quality chances other then the odd one. In the second half both teams looked fairly even for most of the period, had troubles keeping the puck on their sticks. Very limited chances at either ends of the rink in a scoreless game. Penticton outshot Vernon 11-10.
2nd Period: The Snakes started the middle frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. But with just fifteen seconds remaining on the PP, the Vees were able to kill off the minor. A minute into the 2nd period Grant Cruikshank walked into the slot, ripped a heavy shot that beat Ty Taylor but went off the crossbar as the Vees come very close to opening the scoring. On the following shift the Vees would get an early powerplay. Just sixteen seconds in, Luke Reid setup Nicky Leivermann who walked in from the circle, ripped a high shot that beat Vipers starting goaltender Ty Taylor giving Penticton a 1-0 lead at 1:53 Reid with the lone helper. A minute later Cassidy Bowes with a grade a chance in close couldn't handle the puck, missed an opportunity at the side of the net. On the following shift Niko Karamanis dodged a check in front of the benches, before turning on the jets, blew by one defender before setting up Alex Swetlikoff on an odd man rush. Swetlikoff was robbed by Vees starting goaltender Adam Scheel who come across the blue paint to make a huge pad save, keeping this a one goal game. A minute later Vernon would get a powerplay but again unable to capitalize. Just as the penalty expired, the Vees would jump on the PP as the referee's were calling a tight game. The Snakes allowed Grant Cruikshank to walk in in touched before making a slick move in tight, beat Ty Taylor giving Penticton a 2-0 lead at 8:10 Owen Sillinger & Chris Clack with the assists. It seemed like both teams were going back and fourth on the powerplay, as Vernon would get a PP just before the midway mark. The Vees with another solid penalty kill. Just past the halfway mark Joseph Leahy took a heavy hit along the end wall from Jesse Lansdell. Leahy was down and down for several minutes before being attended too by the Vees trainer. Leahy was able to get up and helped off the ice, went to the dressing room. I didn't see if he returned to the game or not. Lansdell was given a charging penalty. Captain Jagger Williamson was sent in for the breakaway shorthanded but with two Penticton defenders on the backcheck, Williamson couldn't break free, still managed a shot but missed the goal. A missed opportunity for Vernon. The Snakes would kill off the penalty. The Vipers with a late powerplay, again unable to muster much for offence couldn't capitalize. Fourty seconds after the penalty expired, with a faceoff in the Vees zone, Niko Karamanis off the faceoff beat Adam Scheel cutting the Penticton lead to 2-1 at 18:48 on a shot that looked to go in and off a Penticton defender in front. Jimmy Lambert & Brett Stapley collected the helpers. It was 2-1 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The referee's were calling a tight game as both teams went back and fourth with specialty teams. The Vees would make Vernon pay, scoring twice on the man advantage, while the Vipers had troubles on the PP. Another period where neither team never really had full control of the play for very long. Vernon outshot Penticton 15-7.
3rd Period: Both teams come out hard, as the play was back and fourth as the pace started to pick up before Vernon would get an early powerplay. But shorthanded Chris Clack and Cassidy Bowes come close to breaking in on the two on one, before Bowes got a little too fancy, tried making a pass back through the slot before the play was broken up. The Vipers got lucky dodging a bullet but still unable to capitalize with the man advantage. Shortly after the penalty expired, Massimo Rizzo tried splitting the Viper defence for the breakaway was hauled down, giving Rizzo a penalty shot about six and a half minutes into the final frame. Rizzo with a slick move in close, couldn't beat Ty Taylor who sprawled out making a huge pad-toe save keeping this a one goal game. This stop seemed to give Vernon a spark and life as the Vipers seemed to build off this play, gained a ton of momentum and took over the game from here on in. The Snakes started pressing and pressing hard, had a ton of pressure in the offensive zone but not a lot of quality chances. Adam Scheel made a few big stops but like last night, was seeing everything. Just past the halfway mark the Penticton Vees got caught on a poor line change allowing Tanner Wishnowski to break in on the odd man rush, setup Keyvan Mokhtari who one timed his shot low glove side beating Adam Scheel, tying the game 2-2 at 13:15 as the Viper bench erupted. Wishnowski and Sol Seibel drew the assists. The Snakes would get one final powerplay about a minute later had some looks but no real quality chances. Penticton playing a lot of the third in their own end, had a few rushes-looks but didn't see much zone time in the 3rd. It was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Ty Taylor gives his team a chance to win after making a huge game save off Massimo Rizzo on the penalty shot. Rizzo scores here and its now 3-1 Vees with a big hill to climb back for the Snakes. Taylor keeps his team in the game, allowing Keyvan Mokhtari to tie the game, sending it to overtime. I thought Vernon was the better of the two teams most of the period. Both teams played hard-looked good early but it seemed like after the Rizzo penalty shot, the Snakes took over control of the game. Vipers again struggle with the man advantage. Penticton with two big penalty kills in the third. Vernon outshoots Penticton 12-7.
Overtime: Not a lot of action early until Jonny Tychonick was able to walk in ripped a heavy shot that beat Ty Taylor but not the crossbar as Penticton was within inches of going home with the OT winner. Vipers catch a huge break. The Vees had more puck possession. The Snakes looked a little cautious in overtime, weren't using their speed, looked a little sluggish with the puck at times. Maybe clutching their sticks too tight. It was 2-2 after 65 minutes of play. Penticton outshot Vernon 2-0.
Double Overtime: The Vipers had early control of the play before jumping on a key powerplay just fifty two seconds into the final overtime. Vernon with a great opportunity to put the game away, waist a lot of time moving the puck around the perimeter killing valuable time off the clock. Penticton with a strong penalty kill, kept the Snakes to the outside, took away Vernon's time & space. The Vipers with just one shot, waisted a great chance to end the hockey game, struggled with the PP. Vernon 0-8 with the man advantage. Both teams had possession but didn't really generate/create much before time would expire. At the buzzer a few players were exchanging words before being split apart. As both teams were making their way to the benches, Adam Scheel got involved with a few Vipers on his way past the Vernon bench. The referee's and linesmen had to again split the teams apart before both teams were chirping at one another as they were leaving the ice. The game would end 2-2. The Snakes with a great opportunity to put the game away on the powerplay, managed just one shot. The Vees with another solid PK get a huge penalty kill in overtime. Penticton looked more dangerous with the puck in both overtimes. Vernon outshot Penticton 2-1.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Niko Karamanis (1 goal) Was the Vipers best player this evening. Had a strong game in the loss in Penticton Friday night, played hard in the tie tonight. Really used his speed and play making to open up the ice. Was skating hard, played hard all night.
Ty Taylor (26 saves) Played very well between the pipes. Made some key saves at times through out the night. Took a hard shot off the mask, was ok and stayed in the game.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After a tough loss last night in Penticton the Vipers battled back to earn a point tonight. For a second straight night I thought these two teams were fairly evenly matched at times. It was the 3rd period where I thought the Vipers took control of the play-game and were the better of the two teams. A lot of penalties called tonight, seemed to take away a lot of the flow. The first half of the opening period and most of if not the entire 2nd period were specialty teams. I thought Vernon played hard and held their own against the Vees but for a second straight night, saw the Vees open the scoring and play with the lead for parts of the game. Give the Snakes credit, down 2-0 they battled back to tie the game-earn a single point but like last night, could have changed the outcome of the game with the powerplay. Last night the Vipers go 1-7 with the man advantage, tonight they go 0-8 on the powerplay. One of those being in overtime. The Vipers struggled with the PP. Vernon passes the puck around the perimeter, back and fourth and then doesn't get a shot on goal. They kill most of the penalty themselves passing the puck around, with no pucks to the net. For a second straight night the Vipers don't get traffic-bodies in front of Adam Scheel. A bigger goaltender, covers a lot of the net and the Vipers get one shot and done. The Vipers need to start getting traffic in front, looking for those second and third opportunities. Make Scheels job a little more difficult. Scheel was seeing everything. The Vipers also need to try and get that shot off their sticks quicker. Vernon seems to cradle the puck, then look, then pass or shot, this allowing the defenders a chance to recover-setup. The Vipers missed several opportunities, not releasing the puck on a quick one timer, instead, passed the puck. Overall a very quick-very entertaining hockey game. Great crowd tonight, in just the Vipers second home game of the season. With the tie the Vipers still sit atop the Division two points up on West Kelowna and a point up on 2nd place Trail. The Vees with four games in hand over Vernon.
Top Player's: (Penticton)
Nicky Leivermann (1 goal) Played another steady game on the Vees blueline. Was very good in the win last night, was just as good tonight. This kid likes to get pucks to the net, get involved in the play. A bigger body, can skate. Played very well at both ends of the rink.
Luke Reid (1 assist) Was another defenceman who played well in back to back games over the weekend.
Jackson Keane the son of former NHLer Mike Keane played well up front. Had a few looks-chances in and around the net.
Jonny Tychonick rang a shot off the crossbar in overtime, played well on the backend. This kid can skate and move the puck. Very quick on his feet.
Grant Cruikshank (1 goal) Scored on the powerplay, had a strong game down low-up front for Penticton. Was strong on the puck-forecheck. Hard to knock off the puck, won several battles down low. This kid battles-plays hard. Has a wicked shot.
Cassidy Bowes I thought looked good at times. Had some looks-opportunities.
Adam Scheel (38 saves) For a second straight night/game gave his team a chance to win. A bigger netminder, covers a lot of the goal, plays his position well, doesn't give up many if any second or third opportunities. Again like last night, was seeing the puck. I like the looks of this kid.
Game Thought's: (Penticton)
Tonight's game was a lot like last night's contest in Penticton, this game had a lot of the same similarities. I thought the opening period was a lot like last night's 1st period. Not a lot of action, very little opportunities at both ends of the rink, in a scoreless period. Both teams warmed up and had some looks-chances in the 2nd and 3rd but in a penalty filled game. I don't think Penticton will be happy blowing a 2-0 lead. The Vees had chances to put this game away or at least get that next goal to grab a pretty good 3-0 lead and couldn't. It looked like the referee's were calling a tight game, as specialty teams made an impact. Vernon went 0-8 with the PP while the Vees went 2-6. Like last night, I thought Penticton's penalty kill was very solid again tonight. The Vees PK did a great job at keeping the Snakes to the outside, taking away their time and space. The Vipers didn't really have a chance to get pucks to the net on the powerplay. Adam Scheel was also good on the PK but the Vees defence has to be given a pat on the back, both on the PK and five on five. Fredy Harbinson and the Vees coaching staff wont be pleased with taking eight minors tonight, after taking seven Friday. Penticton usually is very disciplined and stays away from the box. The Vees are quick, can break out in a hurry and create/generate offensive chances in a split second. Penticton does a great job at releasing the puck in a hurry, getting pucks to the net, make plays happen in a hurry. Nice to see a few Vees fans in attendance. Since the 2011-12 regular season the Vees have dominated the Vipers. Penticton has won thirty one of the last fourty three regular season meetings vs Vernon going 31-10-1-1. The Vees have won sixteen of the last twenty two regular season games over the Vipers.With the tie Penticton falls to 6-0-0-1 are 4th in the Interior Division are a point back of West Kelowna & three points back of Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Finn Evans
Adam Panacci
Mitch Andres
Penticton:
Ryan O'Connell
Shane Allen
Greg Brydon
Taylor Ward
Energy Player of the Game:
Keyvan Mokhtari (1 goal)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Niko Karamanis (1 goal)
2nd Star: Adam Scheel (38 saves)
3rd Star: Ty Taylor (26 saves)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
http://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/7927
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=7927
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=7927
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