Round 1-Game 2 Vernon 6 Salmon Arm 4

I have had season tickets for the past 28 years and been following Junior hockey in Vernon for close to thirty five years. I have missed only three home games since the 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 Game 2 of the opening round of the BCHL playoffs Vipers-Silverbacks game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 6-4 in front of 1,845 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Ty Taylor
Salmon Arm: Reid Cooper

1st Period: The Vipers come out of the gates firing on all cylinders and jumped on the Gorillas off the opening faceoff. Viper captain Jagger Williamson with a burst of speed made a nice move in close drove hard towards the goal, couldn't beat Reid Cooper in close just fourty five seconds into the contest. Vernon really flying early before Derek Brown setup Jordan Sandhu on a two on one giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 2:33 Brown drew the lone assist. Just before the halfway mark the Silverbacks would get the games first powerplay. The Snakes with a good penalty kill held SA to the outside limiting their time and space. In the dying seconds of the powerplay with no shots on the man advantage Hudson Schandor beat Ty Taylor fivehole on the Backs first shot of PP tying the game 1-1 at 11:05 Trevor Adams collected the helper. Just twenty three seconds later Josh Latta spotted Derek Brown giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 11:28 Latta with the lone assist. Minutes later the Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage but unable to capitalize. It was 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Snakes jumped on Salmon Arm early and often and were by far the better of the two teams. The Vipers had a ton of puck possession and zone time, carried the better of the play. Vernon with several good looks, only scored twice. The Vipers looked very good, were playing with a ton of jump/energy. The Silverbacks looked flat to start, didn't have much jump/energy off the opening puck drop. The Backs didn't generate or create much for offence were limited with the puck. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 19-10.

2nd Period: The Vipers with another strong start to start the middle frame. Jimmy Lambert ripped a wicked shot from the circle beating Silverbacks starting goaltender Reid Cooper top shelf, giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 2:06 Lambert's goal was unassisted. 1:08 later Chris Jandric's shot was tipped in front by Connor Marritt giving Vernon a 4-1 lead at 3:14 Reid Cooper and the Gorillas were looking for goaltender interference, but with no call on the goal/play the goal stood. Jandric picked up the only assist.  This was the end of the night for Reid Cooper was replaced by former Western Hockey League veteran goaltender Kyle Dumba. Cooper allowed four goals on twenty four Vernon shots. Eight seconds later the Snakes with some nice three way passing before spotting two Viper forwards behind the Salmon Arm defence. Derek Brown setup Josh Latta on a highlight reel goal, giving Vernon a commanding 5-1 lead at 3:22 Brown with the assist. Welcome to the game Kyle Dumba, allowing his first shot of the night. I was surprised Scott Atkinson didn't call a timeout and try and rally the troops. The Snakes kept pressing and poured on the pressure. The Backs showing signs of frustration were mugging several Vernon players on the following few shifts. With no penalties detected from the officials, fans at Kal Tire Place let them hear it. Minutes later Rookie Alex Swetlikoff ripped a quick shot from the slot, that beat Kyle Dumba rang it off the crossbar as the Vipers come within inches of going up by five. Tanner Campbell would take an undisciplined penalty, sending Vernon to the powerplay. The Vipers with several quality looks/chances come close to capitalizing, beat Kyle Dumba as the puck looked to be going towards the goal line, Austin Chorney with a solid defensive play cleared the puck from the blue paint and the Gorillas killed off the minor. This seemed to give Salmon Arm some life and change the momentum of the hockey game. The Backs pushed back before Rhett Kingston beat Vipers starting goaltender Ty Taylor on a redirection in front, cutting the Vernon lead to 5-2 at 11:31 Sol Seibel drew the lone helper. Fifty two seconds later Hudson Schandor with a solid shift, did all the work to keep Vernon hemmed in their own end before spotting a pinching Julian Timba who beat Ty Taylor cutting Vernon's lead to 5-3 at 12:23 Schandor picked up the assist. Fifty three seconds later Jesse Lansdell with a nice pass out front setup Jagger Williamson giving Vernon a 6-3 lead at 13:16 Lansdell & Niko Karamanis collected the assists. SA pushed back and didn't quit. With just over five minutes remaining Rhett Kingston setup Grayson Constable, looked to have an open cage couldn't connect on the pass off the odd man rush, on a missed opportunity for the Silverbacks. Minutes later with a strong forecheck and good pressure in the offensive zone, Trevor Adams through the puck towards the front of the goal, somehow found its way through Ty Taylor and the side of the net, cutting Vernon's lead to 6-4 at 17:01 Julian Timba drew the lone helper. On the following play former Viper d-man Sol Seibel went after Jesse Lansdell in front of the Backs crease. Seibel dropping the mits started throwing punches away before the officials jumped in. Lansdell who didn't drop his gloves would head to the sin bin along with Seibel who also picked up a ten minute misconduct. I have no idea why Seibel wasn't thrown out for fighting. It was 6-4 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers for a second straight period jumped on SA off the opening faceoff before opening up the flood gates. Vernon with three goals in about a minute and a half broke the game wide open, chasing Reid Cooper from the pipes. The Snakes in full control looked to walk away with an easy victory before the Silverbacks pushed back. The Vipers looked to take their foot off the gas, allowed the Gorillas back in the game/period giving up three goals on just eight shots. Ty Taylor didn't look sharp on one if not two Salmon Arm goals wasn't having a strong night. I thought Vernon was by far the better team, dominated the play in the first half, were up 5-1 before the Backs pushed back in the second half. A second half where both teams looked sloppy. The Vipers looking sloppy in their own end. The 2nd period also saw the Silverbacks show their frustration, get a little chippy from time to time. The officials letting the teams play, kept the whistle in their pocket. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 18-8.

3rd Period: Inside the opening minute on a harmless looking dump in, the puck took an awkward bounce off the end glass, caught Kyle Dumba way out of position, luckily for the Gorillas no Viper was near the front of the goal to hit the open net. A close call for Salmon Arm. The Snakes with another good start, jumped on the Backs early before getting an early powerplay. SA would kill off the minor. The Vipers carried the better of the play in the first half, with the Silverbacks having a few push back shifts but unable to really create/generate any kind of opportunities. Around the midway mark a shot from well out, changed direction on it's way to the goal forced Ty Taylor into making a difficult save on a quality chance from Salmon Arm. Shortly after the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the 3rd but again another big penalty kill from the Gorillas. Kyle Dumba had to be sharp as Vernon had several good looks-goal mouth scrambles couldn't bury their chances. With about six and a half minutes left former Viper forward Brandon Whistle was stoned by Ty Taylor. Whistle looked to have an open cage before Taylor come diving across the crease to make the enormous save keeping this a two goal game. With about four minutes remaining tempers heated up again as Brandon Whistle crosschecked Brett Stapley several times, once across the face/head before the two ended up in the box. Both teams getting chippy late in the game with time winding down. Salmon Arm would get Kyle Dumba to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:52 remaining. Jagger Williamson turned up the jets tried beating two Salmon Arm defenders was hauled down going for the puck at a chance for the open net, couldn't get a shot off. With no penalty on the play, the Viper bench was looking for a penalty. Vernon would hold off the Backs come away with the 6-4 victory and a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. At the buzzer the Vipers went looking for the game puck. Tanner Campbell for a second straight night tried scooping up the game puck. Tonight he did and scurried away with two Vipers chasing him down, while the officials got involved. Vernon pointing-looking for the game puck, eventually would get the puck from Campbell after the referee stopped him at the Silverbacks bench. I thought the Vipers were the better team. Vernon had a lot of the play/puck possession tightened up defensively limiting Salmon Arm's opportunities. The Snakes had a few mental let downs in their own end, played a lot of the 3rd in the offensive zone. Vernon with several looks/chances had a few goal mouth scrambles couldn't capitalize on their chances. The Gorillas didn't create or generate much for offence, had troubles getting pucks to the net. Like last night the Backs struggled offensively in the 3rd. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-6.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

The line of Derek Brown (1 goal & 2 assists), Jordan Sandhu (1 goal) & Josh Latta (1 goal & 1 assist) was Vernon's most offensive/productive line tonight. This line has been the Vipers offence in the first two games of this series. Very dangerous with and without the puck, hard to contain/defend against, gave SA all kinds of trouble in the offensive zone. Brown has a ton of speed and skill, is very shifty and creative with the puck. Sandhu has a ton of speed and determination to win the battle for the puck, while Latta has some muscle and beats guys along the wall.

The line of Jagger Williamson (1 goal), Keyvan Mokhtari & Jesse Lansdell (1 assist) was another solid/strong line for the Snakes. This line adds grit and hustle also caused troubles for Salmon Arm.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

The Vipers come ready to play tonight and it showed off the opening faceoff. Vernon with a ton of jump/energy jumped on the Silverbacks early and often. The Snakes looked very solid/strong in that opening period. For a second straight period the Vipers got off to a hot/quick start, jumping on the Gorillas. Vernon with three straight quick goals just over a minute apart were out to a commanding 5-1 lead before taking their foot off the gas. The Vipers allowed SA back in the game, had troubles defensively/in their own end against Salmon Arm's top lines. The Snakes looking so dominate for the first half of the middle frame, then get sloppy and allow the Gorillas back in the game in the second half. I thought the Vipers regrouped and played much better in the 3rd. Yes at times they struggled in their own end, but managed to keep the Silverbacks away from the front of the net and limited their chances. I thought Vernon really stepped up their play in the third, wore the Backs down in the battles/down low. A real hard fought/gutsy effort in the final twenty minutes. The Vipers hold Salmon Arm to just eleven shots and no goals in both 3rd periods in the first two games of this series. Former Viper forward/captain David Robinson and former Viper forward Bryce Kakoske were in attendance tonight. The Vipers will now travel to Salmon Arm for Games 3 & 4 Tuesday & Wednesday. The Vipers have won six straight and nine straight on home ice are now 10-1 in their last eleven games.

Top Player's: (Salmon Arm)

Tanner Campbell Played with an edge, was in the face of the Vipers most of the night.

Hudson Schandor (1 goal & 1 assist) Was a factor in the game tonight. A big body, can skate, move the puck, is involved in the play, strong on the puck/forecheck, played well in the loss.

Trevor Adams (1 goal & 1 assist) Played well for a second straight night. Not the biggest kid but plays hard. Battles/competes.

Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)

Unlike last night the Backs looked flat before the start of Game 2. The Vipers jumped on SA early and often and the Silverbacks didn't have much to answer back with. The Gorillas were outplayed for most of the night, minus the second half of the 2nd period. This game shouldn't have even been close after Vernon jumped out to a 5-1 lead early to start the middle frame. Give the Backs credit, weather or not the Vipers took their foot off the gas, Salmon Arm responded with a few push back shifts, got to within two goals twice but that's as close as they would come. I thought the Silverbacks had more push and more consistency in Game 1 looked frustrated through out Game 2. SA playing with an edge got away with a lot of penalties that went undetected or with the score out of hand at one point, the officials deciding not to call it. Either way the Silverbacks need to stay disciplined and stay away from the sin bin. I thought the Backs had more offensive chances in Game 1 didn't create/generate enough opportunities in Game 2. For a second straight night SA had troubles getting zone time/shots to the net in the 3rd. I don't think Reid Cooper could be faulted for any of the four Vernon goals, didn't have much help in front of him. Kyle Dumba was having all kinds of puck control with his rebounds. Big juicy rebounds all night. The Gorillas down two games head home for Games 3 & 4 look to switch the momentum and take advantage of home ice. The Vipers won all three regular season meetings in Salmon Arm this year. It looked like a smaller turnout of Salmon Arm fans tonight, over last night. Salmon Arm has one win in their last fifteen games vs the Vipers (regular season & playoffs).

Scratches:

Vernon:

Shane Kelly (Injured)
Josh Prokop (Injured-Out for the season)

Salmon Arm:

Max Wutzke
Logan Mostat

Energy Player of the Game:

Jagger Williamson (1 goal)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Derek Brown (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Josh Latta (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Hudson Schandor (1 goal & 1 assist)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

http://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8405 

Game Report,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8405

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8405