vipersdiehardfan blog: Interior Conference Semifinals: Game 1 Vernon 4 Salmon Arm 3 Overtime

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole life. My family watched Senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have two family members that played Junior hockey in Vernon. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 5 home games since 2004 and 46 home games since 1990. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 2.3 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thoughts and views from tonight's hockey game. You may agree or disagree, but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game and see things differently. I try to be professional and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks Game 1 of the Interior Conference Semifinals as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-3 in overtime in front of 1,823 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Matthew Tovell

1st Period: About four minutes into the hockey game, the Vipers dumped the puck into the offensive zone on a line change but Matthew Tovell mishandled the bouncing puck as it almost popped out into the open. On the following play, the Silverbacks would get the games first power play just over four minutes into the period. Early into the man advantage, Ethan Ullrick would be denied by Ethan David before Owen Beckner rang a high shot from well out off the crossbar. Late in the PP Ethan David had to be alert, making a big pad save with traffic in front as Salmon Arm gets a few looks/opportunities but the visiting Vernon Vipers kill off the penalty. The Vipers almost needed seven minutes to record their first shot of the evening and the first shot was a good one. Lee Parks got in behind the SA defence before being stopped at the top of the crease on a big save from Matthew Tovell. Casy Laylin would get a good look from the circle, unable to beat Ethan David at the midway mark. Late in the period, Reagan Milburn turned over the puck just outside the blueline, allowing Ryan Gillespie and Nathan Mackie to break in on the two on one rush. Gillespie setup Mackie in for the breakaway, beating Ethan David high glove, giving Salmon Arm a late 1-0 lead at 14:35 Ryan Gillespie with the lone assist. The Snakes tried setting up a forward driving towards the front of the net but Nathan Mackie almost redirected the puck into his own goal with about three and a half minutes remaining. It was 1-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers got off to a good start, jumped on the S'Backs early and often with good pressure in the first few minutes. Vernon carried the play early but unable to get pucks to the net or create any scoring chances. Vernon needed almost seven minutes to record their first shot of the 1st period. The Snakes looked good for about the first three to four minutes before the Apes took over the play and never looked back. Salmon Arm was the better team, carried the play, were getting pucks to the net, had a few good looks/chances, were playing with pace, lots of jump/energy and playing physical, laying the body on the Vipers often. The Silverbacks needed a few minutes to get their legs going but never looked back, played a very good opening period. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 14-6.

2nd Period: Inside the opening minute, William Lavigne's point shot got through traffic but couldn't solve Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Ethan David who made a big pad save early into the period. Two minutes into the middle frame, a shot from the point looked to be redirected in front but the Vipers hit iron on an early opportunity. The Gorillas would get just the games second power play, just past the halfway mark and capitalize. Ethan David was forced to make an early save off a shot from the point with bodies in front before Ethan Ullrick was stopped by Ethan David before former Surrey Eagles forward Brandon Santa Juana put home the rebound on a loose puck in the crease, giving Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead at 12:14 Nathan Mackie & Ethan Ullrick drew the helpers. It was 2-0 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks were the better team and outplayed the Vipers. The Apes carried the play the entire period, had a ton of puck possession but didn't generate a whole lot of chances this period. SA saw a lot of time in the offensive zone but didn't get a lot of pucks to the net. The Vipers struggled offensively, had troubles getting through the neutral zone. Vernon couldn't gain any traction, went at least ten minutes without a shot on goal. The Vipers didn't have their lets moving and were almost standing still at times. This wasn't a good period for Vernon. Shots were 8-6 Salmon Arm.

3rd Period: Fourteen seconds into the period Connor Elliott and Nathan Mackie were tangled up in a wrestling match as the two hit the ice. Both players were sent to the penalty box, this the first minor for Salmon Arm. 2:10 later Ryan Gillespie with his second of the contest, gave Salmon Arm an early 3-0 lead at 2:24 Nathan Mackie and CJ Foley picking up the assists. Brandon Santa Juana looked to be in discomfort making his way to the Silverbacks bench was attended to by the trainer, going to the dressing room. Santa Juana seemed to be ok and returned to the hockey game. It wasn't long after and the Vipers sprung Lee Parks in for the partial breakaway, but Parks would be denied by Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting goaltender Matthew Tovell. Shortly after Anthony Cliche's point shot would be blocked in front before Cliche's second shot would find the back of the net, cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 3-1 at 3:52 Connor Elliott with the assist. About a minute and a half later, Lee Parks would get another quality chance but again was stopped by Matthew Tovell. Shortly after Walker Erickson fired a shot from the circle that beat Matthew Tovell, cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 3-2 at 7:01 Isaac Tremblay with the helper. With about four and a half minutes remaining, Lee Parks with a quick low shot from the circle just missed the far corner, while Reid Varkonyi come back the other way, would be stopped by Ethan David in close off a backhand. About a minute later, Isaac Tremblay would be stopped from the high slot on a Vipers three on two rush. Vernon would get Ethan David to the bench with about 1:20ish remaining before Lee Parks setup Isaac Tremblay tying the hockey game 3-3 at 19:15 as the Viper bench and their fans erupted, erasing a 3-0 3rd period lead. Dylan Compton and Lee Parks collected the assists. It was 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. After SA took an early 3-0 lead it looked like the Silverbacks were off to a Game 1 victory. From here on in it was all Snakes as Vernon outplayed the Apes and was the better team for the remainder of the period. The Vipers seemed to wake up and finally get their legs going, played with a ton of jump/energy, had the better of the play, more puck possession, zone time, were getting pucks to the net and for the first time tonight, created/generated a ton of opportunities, something they struggled in the first two periods. The Gorillas fell apart and couldn't get back on track, had troubles containing the Vipers speed and limiting Vernon's opportunities. The S'Backs gave up way too much time and space and allowed the Vipers to use that time and space to their advantage. The Silverbacks and their fans were in aw heading to overtime. Shots were 19-9 Vernon.

Overtime: Off the opening puck drop, Matthew Bourgault with a good look/chance would be stopped inside the opening shift of overtime. About forty five seconds into the extra frame, it looked like Owen Beckner had the game won as the crowd jumped to their feet but somehow Ethan David come across the crease to rob Beckner of what looked to be a sure goal as the play continued. Shortly after Matthew Bourgault would get a second opportunity in the slot but again Ethan David come up with another large save, keeping his team in OT. Shortly after the Vipers sprung Isaac Tremblay for the breakaway, but a good backcheck from Lynden Hanvold and a big pad stop from Matthew Tovell and Tremblay would be denied in OT. Shortly after on a Silverbacks turnover at the blueline, Lee Parks spotted Isaac Tremblay joing the play, hit the open cage with Matthew Tovell way out of position, giving Vernon the 4-3 come from behind overtime victory at 4:17 taking a 1-0 series lead. Lee Parks with the lone assist on the OT winner. The Gorillas with a strong start, jumped on Vernon off the opening faceoff. Salmon Arm had several quality chances were robbed on several opportunities from Ethan David before Isaac Tremblay put the game away early into the fourth period. The Silverbacks couldn't capitalize on their chances while the Snakes buried one of their two opportunities. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 6-3.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Lee Parks (2 assists) Where would the Vipers be without Lee Parks in these playoffs? Parks has been Vernon's best forward in the playoffs. Had several quality chances tonight, setup the game tying goal and the overtime winning goal

Isaac Tremblay (2 goals & 1 assist) Score the game tying goal at 19:15 of the 3rd period before scoring the overtime winning goal at 4:17 of OT Tremblay stepped up in the 3rd and overtime and was one of the Snakes better forwards in the final two periods

Ethan David (34 saves) Improves to 5-0 in these playoffs, kept Vernon in the hockey game and gave his team a chance to win. What can you say about the Vipers goaltenders the past two seasons. David was good last season but really improved this year and has fully earned the #1 job. Without David this game would have been over, especially in overtime with the S'Backs pressing off the opening faceoff. David with three or four huge saves early into overtime

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers and Silverbacks are meeting for a sixth time in playoff history with Vernon winning four of the previous five playoff matchups

- The Snakes got off to a good start, had the early pressure and play for the opening three-four minutes before Salmon Arm took over the play and outplayed the Vipers in the first two periods. The Vipers weren't in this hockey game until the 3rd period where they dominated the play and forced overtime with three straight 3rd period goals

- A large amount of Viper fans at tonight's game

- Vernon didn't get a power play tonight

- The Vipers need a much better start in Game 2 and a more consistent effort in all three periods, not just the 3rd period

- For whatever reason the Snakes were outplayed for the first two periods, were the better team in the 3rd period

- The officials did a great job at letting the two teams play hockey, calling a good game

- The Vipers went 4-3 vs the Silverbacks during the regular season

- Connor Welsh played 18 games with the 2022-23 Silverbacks before being traded to Vernon November 29th 2022

- Ethan David is 5-0 in these playoffs

- The Vipers only regular season win in Salmon Arm was a 4-3 overtime victory on December 10th 2022

- The Vipers aren't a come from behind team. I can probably count on one hand how many times the Snakes have come from behind this season and it's not many. I was shocked they come from behind three goals to not only tie the game but win it in overtime

- Game 2 goes Saturday in Salmon Arm

- This was by far Vernon's worst game of the playoffs

- The Vipers were a much different team in the 3rd period, played their best hockey of the game in the 3rd

- The Vipers went almost ten minutes in the second period without a shot on goal

- For a team that struggled on the road this season has won three of four road games in these playoffs

- The Vipers need to be more consistent and play sixty minutes

- I sure didn't see this one coming after from what I saw in the first two periods

- Vernon went 1-2 in Salmon Arm during the regular season

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

William Lavigne played very well on the Apes blueline. Read the play well, sees the ice and made several plays from the point that generated some opportunities

Owen Beckner played well in the overtime loss, had some looks/chances. Rang a shot off the crossbar on a 1st period power play and was robbed inside the opening minute into overtime

Ethan Ullrick (1 assist) I thought played well for the Backs, had some looks, was involved in the offence, was in and around the net

Nathan Mackie (1 goal & 2 assists) Was the Silverbacks best player this evening. Opened the scoring for Salmon Arm, while chipping in with two assists. This kid can skate, move the puck and is hard to contain/defend

Ryan Gillespie (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another forward who played/looked good in the loss tonight.

Matthew Tovell (30 saves) Looked a little off at times, seemed to have a little trouble with a couple of Vernon's shots tonight. Wasn't tested a whole lot in the first two periods, only faced twelve Viper shots going into the 3rd but was forced to make several saves with the Snakes pressing in the final twenty minutes

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- The Silverbacks were by far the better team in the 1st and 2nd periods, blew a 3-0 3rd period lead before losing in overtime

- Salmon Arm looked very good/strong in the first two periods, played with pace, had lots of jump/energy, were all over Vernon and had the Vipers where they wanted them. Up 3-0 early into the final period it looked like the Apes had Game 1 wrapped up before blowing the lead and the hockey game

- A large crowd on hand tonight was very close to a sellout. Not many empty seats left as tonight's attendance was 1,823

- Salmon Arm went 1-2 with the power play

- The Silverbacks went 2-0 vs Vernon in the preseason but 3-4 vs the Vipers during the regular season

- The Gorillas had the better scoring chances and more opportunities in the first two periods, generated very little offence in the 3rd period

- The Silverbacks suffer their first loss of the playoffs

- How do you blow a 3-0 3rd period lead?

- Salmon Arm played a physical game, laying the body almost every opportunity they had

- Silverbacks GM Brooks Christensen attended the Vipers training camp back in the early 2000's

- The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the Vipers won the 1st round of the playoffs in five games during the 2018-19 season

- When Salmon Arm took an earl 3-0 3rd period lead, I thought the game was over

- The Apes played well defensively in the 1st and 2nd periods, limiting Vernon's time and space as well as blocking shots in the first two periods

- The Silverbacks swept the opening round of the playoffs taking out the Prince George Spruce Kings in four straight games