Penticton 4 Vernon 1

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 Penticton defeated Vernon 4-1 in front of 2,187 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Anthony Yamnitsky
Penticton: Adam Scheel

Before tonight's game the Vipers had a moment of silence to honour the veterans on Remeberance Day.

1st Period: Just thirty two seconds into the hockey game, Adam Scheel was forced to make a quick pad save off a shot from the point, before Jordan Sandhu pounced on the rebound, somehow shot up and over the goal, missing the open part of the cage as the Vipers close to opening the scoring off the opening faceoff. Just over a minute later the Taylor Ward missed the net on a two on one rush, on a quality chance early. Penticton with a few hard working shifts early were up in shots 3-1 before the Snakes rallied back with some sustained pressure of their own. Just past the halfway mark Josh Prokop with some slick moves cutting through the Penticton zone, was able to get behind the defence before getting in alone was denied by Adam Scheel who made a big stop from in close. Two minutes later Vernon would get the games first powerplay, but unable to capitalize the Vees killed off the minor. Just over a minute later Nicky Leivermann's point shot was redirected in front by Taylor Ward beating former Wenatchee Wild goaltender Anthony Yamnitsky giving Penticton a 1-0 lead at 16:08 on the Vees fourth shot of the game.  Leivermann and Jared Nash drew the helpers. The Vipers with a big push back, come on strong to finish the frame, had a ton of zone time and good looks couldn't tie the game. It was 1-0 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. A very entertaining 1st period saw both teams go back ad fourth at times. I thought the Snakes were the better of the two teams, had a slight edge in play, had more sustained pressure. The Vipers had some good looks & a few quality chances couldn't find the back of the net. The Vees had good pressure-zone time at times didn't generate/create many opportunities. Vernon outshot Penticton 10-5.

2nd Period: The Vees jumped on the Vipers early and often, forcing Vernon into several turnovers inside their own zone. About two minutes in Joseph Leahy with a quick shot from just inside the blueline forced Vipers starting goaltender Anthony Yamnitsky to flash the leather with a quick glove save. Penticton with a strong-aggressive forecheck were hard on pucks, winning most of if not all the battles, had the Vipers back on their heels early and often. Five minutes in Jared Nash with a quality chance in front was stoned by Anthony Yamnitsky who made his biggest save of the evening. The Vipers needed seven minutes to record their first shot of the period. It was all Vees early and all of the first half. Vernon would get their second powerplay of the night at the midway mark. The Vipers had some good looks, couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. This seemed to give Vernon a little life and some momentum as the Snakes built off this powerplay, coming back with some good pressure-shifts. A few minutes later Penticton would get their first and only look with the PP. The Vees made the Snakes pay. Jonny Tychonick with a seeing eye shot from the point, beat a screened Anthony Yamnitsky giving Penticton a 2-0 lead at 16:24 Taylor Ward with the lone assist. 1:31 later newly acquired Jordan Henderson's shot from the blueline beat a screened Anthony Yamnitsky giving Penticton a 3-0 lead at 17:55 Jack Barnes collected the assist. Two quick back to back goals from the Vees, put Vernon in a huge hole down three goals late in the period. A minute later Jordan Henderson with a great look-opportunity couldn't solve Anthony Yamnitsky as the Vees close to grabbing a four goal lead. On the following shift/play Shane Kelly jumped into a scrum in front of both benches, laid out a big hit. As the play continued up ice, Kelly again was playing physical down low. Inside the final minute Kelly's harmless looking shot from the corner, somehow fooled Vees starting goaltender Adam Scheel beating the Penticton netminder on a goal he may want back. Penticton up 3-1 at 19:30 Jagger Williamson & Josh Prokop with the helpers. Some late pushing and shoving occurred as tempers heated up to end the period. It was 3-1 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. A very one sided 2nd period as the Vees jumped on Vernon early and often and controlled most of the middle frame. Penticton with a strong forecheck early, had the Snakes back on their heels, forcing the Vipers into several turnovers. The Vipers having all kinds of trouble, getting out of their own end and getting any kind of offensive zone time. Penticton winning most of the battles were by far the better of the two teams. The Vipers werent skating this period, didn't seem to get their legs going until a powerplay about halfway through the period. Vernon responded with a few hard shifts, finally able to get some pressure in the offensive zone but couldn't keep it going long. The Vees with two quick back to back goals late grab a three goal lead. How big were these two goals? The way the Snakes were playing, the third goal basically put the game away. Vernon outshot Penticton 12-11.

3rd Period: Not much for action early before Dakota Boutin missed the net on a Vees two on one rush about five minutes in. About a minute later the Vipers sprung Keyvan Mokhtari in for the parcial breakaway, Mokhtari really used his wheels to cut hard to the goal, couldn't get the puck up and over Adam Scheel who stayed with the play, making a huge pad save before stopping the rebound on a Viper coming in late. Two big stops keeping this a two goal game. Just before the halfway mark Brett Stapley with a quality chance couldn't solve Adam Scheel before Cassidy Bowes beat Anthony Yamnitsky from the circle, but rang his shot off the far post. Captain Jagger Williamson alone in front at the midway mark, somehow missed an open cage with Adam Scheel looking the other way. I thought it was Williamson but Graham Turnbull said on the post game show it was Connor Marritt. The play really started to open up with opportunities at both ends of the rink as both teams were getting some good looks-chances. Vernon with a few nice passing plays couldn't capitalize in close weren't getting the bounces-puck luck tonight. The Vees sitting on a two goal lead were collapsing in front, were doing a good job at limiting the Snakes time and space, blocking lots of shots-closing the shooting lanes. The Vipers would get a late powerplay before calling a timeout. The Snakes would get Anthony Yamnitsky to the bench for the extra attacker, but it didn't take long for Ryan O'Connell's shot from his own end, hit the open cage giving Penticton a 4-1 lead at 18:41 O'Connell's shorthanded goal was unassisted. The Vees bench erupted after the goal, sending Viper fans to the exists early. Vernon still on the PP passed the puck round and round, basically winding down the the final few seconds as Penticton would snap their four game winless streak with the 4-1 victory. At first neither team was doing much of anything before both teams had several great looks-opportunities. The Vipers with two grade a chances, could have easily made things interesting if they scored on their chances. Penticton with a pretty solid defensive game blocked lots of shots, collapsed down low and in and around the front of the net, limited the Vipers chances. Vernon had some good looks-opportunities but overall looked disorganised for a lot of the period. Penticton outshot Vernon 9-8.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Jordan Sandhu I thought played hard-well for most of the night. Used his speed/skill at times to try and generate/create some offensive chances.

Niko Karamanis I thought was Vernon's best-hardest working player in the loss. Karamanis was flying all night, worked hard-competed, was in strong on the forecheck, winning races, didn't really get any offensive opportunities.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

I really liked the Snakes 1st period, I thought they were the better of the two teams, could have easily had a goal or two, played hard, had several good looks-opportunities. Don't know what happened between periods but Vernon was outplayed-outworked for most of the 2nd period. The Vipers looked flat to start, were hemmed in their own end early, were turning pucks over at the blueline, coughing the puck up, making mistakes. Other then a few shifts about halfway through the frame the Snakes didn't look very good. The Vees carried a lot of the play, saw a ton of time in the Viper zone. The Vipers lost a lot of the battles/races for the puck, didn't seem to have their legs going until about halfway through the period. Two quick back to back goals just over a minute apart killed any kind of comeback, basically put this game away. I thought Vernon played a little better in the 3rd had several quality chances, couldn't bury their opportunities. For a lot of the final frame the Snakes looked tired-disorganised, couldn't seem to put together back to back shifts. The Vipers needed to get more traffic in front of Adam Scheel, he seemed to be seeing everything. Missing five key/veteran players and playing their fifth game in nine days doesn't help. After the 1st period the Vipers had troubles getting any real sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Any chances they had, it was back out. Vernon didn't seem to have that jump/energy in the 2nd and 3rd periods, playing with eleven forwards and only five defencemen the Vipers were lacking their mojo. I didnt think the Snakes looked like the same team after the 1st period. Not one of their greatest games this season. In the two games I saw Brandon Whistle play, he hasn't impressed me-done much. Anthony Yamnitsky has been in goal in four of the Vipers five losses this year. Vernon's eight game unbeaten streak comes to an end with the loss. A good size crowd tonight, didn't make much noise left disappointed. The Snakes don't get much time off, are back at it Wednesday vs West Kelowna. Vipers lost just their second game on home ice fall to 15-5-0-4 stay in top spot in the league. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman/captain Brett Corkey (2010-2013) was in attendance tonight. A big shout out to the Corkey's who are avid readers of this blog.

Top Player's: (Penticton)

Jared Nash (1 assist) I thought played a hard nosed game, was going to the net, picking up one helper, had some looks-chances.

Jack Barnes Played well, was skating hard, looked good through out the night.

Taylor Ward (1 goal & 1 assist) Was the Vees best player in my mind. Was involved in the play often, generated/created several chances, was flying up and down the wing all game.

Cassidy Bowes Looked good at different times through out the contest. Hit the post in the 3rd period, hustled tonight, wasn't afraid to get involved in the physical play.

Adam Scheel (29 saves) I'mproves to 2-0-0-2 vs Vernon this season. Was good in the opening frame and made some big stops in the 3rd. Didn't see much action in the middle frame, was seeing everything, a big goaltender that covers a lot of the net, doesn't give up many second opportunities, plays smart, plays with confidence.

Game Thought's: (Penticton)

Coming into tonight the Vees were winless in their last four games and had just one win in their last seven games. That sure didn't show last night or again tonight. Penticton has had the Vipers number the past four-five seasons and this year seems to be no different. In a 1st period where the Vees played well at times, I thought weren't the better team, somehow found a way to be up a goal. This was huge because Penticton woke up-come ready to play in the 2nd and took over the game. The Vees with a strong forecheck, were hard on the Snakes, forcing turnovers, had Vernon on their heels for a lot of that 2nd period. Two huge goals late both just over a minute apart, basically put this game away. The Vees wore the Snakes down in that middle frame, before playing a strong defensive game in the 3rd, clogging up the neutral zone, blocking shots, collapsing in front of the goal and clearing the front of the net, giving Adam Scheel all kinds of time to see pucks. Other then the opening period Penticton was the better of the two teams overall. The Vees regrouped after twenty minutes and played hard-well in the final two periods. Give credit to Penticton for snapping a three game road losing skid and winning in a tough rink where the Snakes have lost just twice at home. A big win-two points. The Vees with five games in hand over Vernon. Even playing without three key players themselves Penticton still managed to find a way to pull out a big victory snapping their four game winless streak. The Vees were looking for the game puck after the win, couldn't find it, went over to the time keepers bench, asking for a puck but the time keepers didn't have any pucks. No matter whos playing or what year it is, the Vees have the Vipers number. Since the 2011-12 regular season the Vees have dominated the Vipers. Penticton has won thirty two of the last fourty five regular season meetings vs Vernon. The Vees have won eight of their last ten games at Kal Tire Place. With the win Penticton improves to 11-5-1-2 sit 5th in the Division one point back of West Kelowna.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Sol Seibel (Injured)
Tanner Wishnowski (Injured)
Jesse Lansdell
Alex Swetlikoff (Playing at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge)
Jimmy Lambert (Injured)

Penticton:

Luke Reid (Playing at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge)
Jackson Keane (Injured)
Massimo Rizzo (Playing at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge)
Chris Klack (Injured)

Energy Player of the Game:

Jordan Sandhu

Three Star's:

1st Star: Taylor Ward (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Shane Kelly (1 goal)
3rd Star: Adam Scheel (29 saves)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

http://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8035

Game Report,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8035

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8035