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 the Vipers-Silverbacks Game 3 of Round 1 as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-2 in front of 779 fans at the Shaw Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Ty Taylor
Salmon Arm: Kyle Dumba
1st Period: Just twelve seconds into the opening frame Derek Brown wired a shot from inside the circle beating Kyle Dumba top shelf giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 0:12 Brown's goal was unassisted. The Vipers jumped on the Backs early and often as it was all Snakes. Vernon carried the play, had a ton of puck possession and zone time early. About three minutes in on just the Silverbacks second shot, a shot-dump in play from well out looked to fool Ty Taylor as the puck took a funny bounce at the last second, causing Taylor some problems stopping the puck. Seven minutes in Derek Brown with a quick release from the high slot forced Kyle Dumba into making a quick reaction save. On the same play/shift former Alberni Valley Bulldogs captain Jordan Sandhu with a quality opportunity from the slot couldn't solve Kyle Dumba. Minutes later Alex Swetlikoff ripped a shot from the high slot looked to fool Kyle Dumba almost went through the legs of the former Western Hockey League netminder and into the back of the net on a strange play. The Snakes with a ton of pressure early were outshooting Salmon Arm 10-4 at the halfway mark. Minutes later just before the radio timeout Trevor Adams alone in the slot couldn't solve Ty Taylor on back to back quality chances from in close. Tanner Campbell took a light check in the offensive zone, went down in a hurry and looked to be in some discomfort, was very slow getting up, slowly made his way to the Gorillas bench. Campbell seemed to be ok and stayed in the game. SA would the games first powerplay, late in the 1st. The Silverbacks with good pressure, had several good looks/chances in tight, but none better then former Vipers forward Brandon Whistle who would be robbed by Ty Taylor who come across the blue paint, making a huge pad save on the penalty kill. Taylor and the Snakes would get some solid goaltending and kill off the minor. Just as the penalty expired Derek Brown lead the Viper attack with a two on one. Brown declined setting up Jordan Sandhu, kept and fired beating Kyle Dumba for his second of the period, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 18:35 Jagger Williamson drew the lone helper. This was a killer for the Backs. SA with a solid powerplay, couldn't capitalize on their opportunities, give up a late goal just as the penalty expired. Tough break for the Gorillas. It was 2-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers were the better of the two teams, carried most of the play for most of the period. Vernon with a ton of pressure, zone time, had more puck possession outplayed the Silverbacks. The Backs didn't really muster much for offensive chances other then on the powerplay. Give Salmon Arm credit, they were outshot 10-4 at one point, battled back in shots. Most of the shots were on the man advantage. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 13-12.
2nd Period: SA with a quick start to the middle frame, jumped on the Snakes off the opening faceoff. Salmon Arm with good pressure in the opening minute, didn't create/generate any real opportunities, had some solid pressure in the attacking zone. The Vipers would excape and spring Brett Stapley in for the breakaway about a minute and a half into the period. Stapley tried going around Silverbacks starting goaltender Kyle Dumba who sprawled out to make a large bad save, keeping this a two goal game early into the 2nd period. On the following draw/faceoff Mitch Andres wired a shot from the backend forced Kyle Dumba into making a large pad save. On the play the Backs would take a penalty, giving Vernon their first powerplay of the evening just 2:18 into the frame. Jimmy Lambert alone in the high slot ripped a quick release forced Kyle Dumba into making a glove save, just getting a piece of the puck with the tip of his glove. The Snakes would then spring Keyvan Mokhtari in for the parcial breakaway in the dying seconds of the man advantage. Kyle Dumba once again up to the test, made another large save early in this period as Salmon Arm got some solid goaltending from Dumba would kill off the minor. Twenty five seconds later Noah Wakefore would take an undisciplined penalty, sending Vernon back to the PP. Michael Young with a blast from the point forced Kyle Dumba into making a huge pad save. The Snakes couldn't generate much with the man advantage as the Silverbacks with another big kill on the penalty kill. With back to back powerplay's the Vipers had a lot of puck possession, carried the play for most of the first half before Salmon Arm turned the tables. The Backs pushed back slowly changed the momentum and took over the edge in play. SA looked to have Vernon back on their heels, poured on the pressure for several minutes. The Silverbacks with several looks in close couldn't get one past Ty Taylor. With the Vipers running around in their own end would send the Gorillas to the powerplay. Salmon Arm somehow missed an open cage in front, kept the play alive, managed to get the puck back out front to Rhett Kingston who beat Vipers starting goaltender Ty Taylor fivehole, cutting the Vernon lead to 2-1 at 12:25 getting the crowd at the Shaw Centre to their feet. Trevor Adams & Hudson Schandor collected the assists. On the following play/shift Ty Taylor was hit hard from one of his own team mates, I think Jordan Sandhu. Taylor went down hard before a whistle stopped the play. With the stoppage come the radio timeout. Taylor was a little slow getting to his feet, looked to be ok and stayed in the hockey game. The Backs kept coming, once again come back with another strong push. About two minutes after Kingston's goal, Justin Wilson would be denied by Ty Taylor on a wrap around, before robbing Brandon Whistle at the side of the crease. Taylor with two large back to back saves, keeping this a one goal game with SA pressing. Vernon stuck on eighteen shots at this point for a good five to six minutes just couldn't get out of their zone and into the offensive zone. The Snakes managed to excape and eventually get some late pressure of their own. Jimmy Lambert ripped a quick shot from the slot with about two and a half minutes left, forced Kyle Dumba into making a large pad save. With about a minute remaining and Backs pressing, Salmon Arm couldn't bury the loose puck on a goal mouth scramble. With Ty Taylor down and out and a ton of bodies in and around the Vernon goal, the Gorillas couldn't find the back of the net. Inside the final minute a shot from the point somehow found it's way through traffic, couldn't beat Kyle Dumba who made another big pad save before the final buzzer, keeping this a one goal game. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Salmon Arm jumped on the Vipers off the opening faceoff, had some early pressure for about the first minute before Vernon took over the edge in play. With back to back powerplay's, the Vipers had several quality opportunities, couldn't solve Kyle Dumba who was huge on the penalty kill, kept the Backs in the hockey game. Vernon was the better team for about the first seven to eight minutes before SA slowly turned the tables and changed the momentum. The Silverbacks with a ton of pressure, carried the better of the play for a good eight to nine minutes, had a ton of puck possession and zone time, only managed one goal. Shots were even 10-10.
3rd Period: The Snakes come out strong, jumped on the Backs early. Vernon with good pressure early, setup Derek Brown who was stopped by Kyle Dumba inside the opening minute. The Vipers with several looks/chances in and around the net, quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead in shots just five minutes in. From here on in, both teams battled hard. In a one goal game, neither team was giving up any real quality chances. The Silverbacks would jump on an early man advantage, get several good looks/chances but unable to capitalize as Vernon killed off the penalty. About three minutes later former Vernon Vipers d-man Sol Seibel laid out a check to the head on Derek Brown who went down immediately. Brown was down on the ice as the play continued before a whistle. Brown was very slow getting up and slow making his way to the bench, looked to be shaken up and a bit woozy but stayed in the contest. Seibel would be given two minutes for a check to the head and an automatic ten minute misconduct. With only 10:52 remaining Seibel would be sent to the dressing room to serve the penalty and didn't return. The Vipers had troubles working the powerplay, couldn't convert as the Gorillas killed off the penalty. Both teams went back and fourth with several hard shifts along the wall, fighting for the puck. Neither team was giving up an inch as both teams with no real quality opportunities in a tight checking 3rd period. Jagger Williamson went awkwardly into the end boards, looked to be a little shaken up on his way back up off the ice, went to the bench but seemed ok staying in the game. With about three minutes remaining I think Riley Hayles come down the left wing with speed, looked to have an open lane, stepped into one ripping a shot just wide of the goal. Back come the Snakes the other way on a quick transition. Jesse Lansdell carried the play into the SA zone before setting up Jagger Williamson who then spotted Niko Karamanis who's quick shot from the high slot missed the net, went off the end glass, before coming back over the goal, hitting Kyle Dumba and then bouncing into the back of the net, giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 17:22 Williamson & Lansdell picked up the assists on a back breaker play for Salmon Arm. Dumba looked in shock after the Viper third goal. Off the following faceoff the Gorillas would get the play in deep, would get Kyle Dumba to the bench for the extra attacker with two minutes to go. The Silverbacks with pressure with time winding down. Akito Hirose would be stopped in close after Ty Taylor made a large pad save before Julian Timba buried the rebound cutting the Vernon lead to 3-2 as the Silverbacks bench erupts. Hirose and Rhett Kingston drew the helpers. Scott Atkinson would call a timeout before getting Kyle Dumba back to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:13 left. Niko Karamanis would spot Viper captain Jagger Williamson for the empty netter giving Vernon a 4-2 lead at 18:58 Karamanis and Jesse Lansdell with the assists as the Viper bench erupts. Mark Ferner would call his timeout as the Vipers would grind out the final minute to come away with the 4-2 victory and a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Vipers got off to a strong start, had some good looks-opportunities, were getting pucks to the net early. Both teams tightened up as the period went along. Both teams battled hard, limiting time and space, giving up basically zero chances in a one goal game. It wasn't until the final three minutes when both teams combined for three goals. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 17-8.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
The line of Derek Brown (2 goals), Josh Latta & Jordan Sandhu Was again strong in these playoffs. This line has really stepped up their play come the first round of playoffs and doing all the damage on the score sheet. What can you say about Derek Brown. This kid has a wicked shot, can skate, move the puck and is super skilled. Hard to contain, defend against and play against. This line was hard in on the puck, created/generated chances through out the game.
The line of Brett Stapley, Jimmy Lambert & Keyvan Mokhtari also gave the Silverbacks trouble at times. Stapley with an early 2nd period breakaway, Lambert with at least three or four quality chances from in close, while Mokhtari on a parcial breakaway on the PP, was really flying all night.
Jagger Williamson (1 goal & 2 assists) The Viper captain played hard. Really competed, battled and made some smart heads up plays, resulting in two goals. Was strong on the draw.
Connor Marritt I thought showed some speed, played well on the 4th line. Was hustling, worked hard all night.
Niko Karamanis (1 goal & 1 assist) Was strong on the puck every shift, was another Viper forward using his wheels, won several races/battles for the puck. Played with a ton of jump/energy.
Chris Jandric I thought played very well on the blueline. Was strong at both ends of the rink, jumped up into the play, played smart defensively.
Ty Taylor (28 saves) Responded well after a tough outing in Game 2. The second year Viper made several big stops on a 1st period Silverbacks powerplay. Looked calm/confident, played his position well, didn't give up any rebounds/second opportunities, was seeing the puck all night. Taylor improves to 7-0 vs the Silverbacks this year.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
Other then maybe eight-nine minutes in the middle frame I thought Vernon played very well and fought hard for the win. I thought the Vipers were by far the better of the two teams in the 1st, outplayed Salmon Arm. The Snakes had a good start to the second period before the Backs turned the tables/changed the momentum. I thought the Vipers escaped the 2nd only giving up a goal, really had to battle/play well defensively in the 3rd to hang on for the win. A very intense final frame, had you on the edge of your seat. I thought the Vipers were the better team in Games 1 & 2 for most of the first two games. Tonight was a different story. Tonight was anybody's game and a very tight checking playoff style game. The Snakes had to earn the win in a hard fought game. I thought all four lines played well. The powerplay had their share of good looks/opportunities just couldn't capitalize. Kyle Dumba come up with some solid stops on the Viper PP. A good size of Viper fans in attendance tonight. This was a very exciting/entertaining hockey game and not nearly as chippy as in Game 2. Vernon has won five straight games in Salmon Arm (regular season & playoffs). The Vipers last loss in the Shuswap was a 6-1 loss January 30 2016. Vernon has won fifteen of their last sixteen games vs the Silverbacks (regular season & playoffs). Going back to the regular season, Vernon has now won seven straight and eleven of their last twelve games. A Viper win tomorrow, combined with a Penticton win in Coquitlam and a Wenatchee win in Merritt Wednesday, means the Wild and Vipers would meet in the second round of the playoffs.
Top Player's: (Salmon Arm)
Rhett Kingston (1 goal & 1 assist) Has been one of the more consistent Backs in the first three games of this series. Kingston dangerous with and without the puck, gave the Vipers trouble at times, was very good with the puck in the loss tonight.
Noah Wakeford I thought played with some jump-energy, used his speed at times to get into the offensive zone. A good quick skater.
Justin Wilson Another forward who played with some jump in his game, hustled, went to the net often, was trying to get traffic in front of the Vernon goal. I thought played well.
Brandon Whistle Had two very solid opportunities in Game 1 vs his former team, had two very good quality chances tonight in Game 3 was once again robbed by Ty Taylor. I wouldn't say Whistle stood out but had two of the better Salmon Arm chances tonight.
Kyle Dumba (36 saves) Falls to 0-4 vs the Vipers this season (regular season & playoffs) Had to be sharp, making several large saves at times through out the contest, especially a few on a 2nd period Viper powerplay. The former veteran WHL goaltender gave his team a chance to win, also struggled at times handling/fighting the puck. Dumba seemed to have troubles handling the puck at times, didn't look so good at certain times in the game. A tough break on the Viper third goal, was just a lucky bounce in favor of Vernon.
Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)
Other then the opening period tonight was one of the Silverbacks more complete games vs the Vipers in this series. In Games 1 & 2 it seemed like the Gorillas played well at times but in spurts were still outplayed for most of Games 1 & 2 in Vernon. I thought SA regrouped and responded with a hard fought back effort after the opening twenty minutes. The Silverbacks fall behind 2-0 but battle back to get within a goal, had several good looks/chances couldn't capitalize on their opportunities, didn't get much puck luck in and around the net. Salmon Arm played hard, battled-competed, gave the Snakes a good push in the 2nd period, only managed one goal fell short. Kyle Dumba was solid on the penalty kill, coming up with several big stops, also got some big blocks from the defense. The Backs blocked a ton of shots tonight. Salmon Arm has only scored more then two goals once this series, has been outscored 15-8 in the first three games of this series. The Goillas now have a huge hill to climb are down 3-0 in the series have beat the Vipers just once this season fall to 1-8 vs Vernon this year. The Silverbacks lone victory over the Snakes was a come from behind 4-3 win in Vernon December 30 2017. Going back to the regular season, the Backs have now lost eight of their last eleven and eleven of their last sixteen games. SA will try and keep their season going, with Game 4 tomorrow in Salmon Arm. A decent crowd on hand for a midweek game. It sure didn't look good just minutes before the start of the game, as a lot of people come just as the game started or minutes in. I don't think they had the heat on inside the Shaw Centre. Was pretty chilly inside.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Shane Kelly (Injured)
Josh Prokop (Injured-Out for the season)
Salmon Arm:
Max Wutzke
Logan Mostat
Energy Player of the Game:
Justin Wilson
Three Stars:
1st Star: Jagger Williamson (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Rhett Kingston (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Derek Brown (2 goals)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
http://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8406
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8406
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8406
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