vipersdiehardfan blog: Game Recap - Penticton 2 Vernon 1

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 2.7 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-Penticton Vees game as the Vees defeated the Vipers 2-1 in front of 2,867 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Colin Reay

Penticton Vees: Andrew Ness

1st Period: This was a fairly even period with a slight edge in play going to the visiting Vernon Vipers. I thought the Vees had the better start and early puck possession but didn't get many pucks to the net or create/generate any real good looks or opportunities. Penticton needed almost six minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Snakes had trouble gaining puck possession early but got better as the period went along. Vernon had a bit more edge in play, more zone time and were getting some good looks and a few chances compared to the Vees. The Vipers were up 7-3 in shots at one point in the second half before Zach Stringer opened the scoring at 12:54 and the Vees seemed to gain some momentum off the opening goal and finished the period strong. It was 1-0 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Snakes 11-9.

2nd Period: The middle frame was all Penticton Vees and it started with an early power play. The Vees were by far the better team as Penticton was all over Vernon. Connor MacPherson on an early PP gave the hometown Vees an early 2-0 lead. The Vees carried most of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and were getting lots of rubber towards Colin Reay. The Viper goaltender kept the Snakes in the hockey game or the Vees could have blown this game open. The Vees went 1-1 with the man advantage and looked good on the power play. Penticton was moving the puck around, getting the forward at the top of the blue paint to generate several good looks/opportunities down low. Viper forward Luke Pakulak looked to lose an edge about five minutes into the 2nd period, went hard into the end boards and didn't get up. Pakulak was down for several minutes in pain, needed several players to help him off the ice and to the dressing room. Pakulak was putting not weight on his right leg as he was very slow making his way to the dressing room. Pakulak didn't return to the hockey game. About four minutes later, Colin Reay was hit by a Vees player that crashed the crease, Reay was slow getting up and in some discomfort, went down to one knee as the play went up ice but stayed in the hockey game. The Snakes needed eleven minutes to get their first shot of the period. The Vipers would seem to gain a little life towards the end of the period, gained a couple of looks/chances with a few good shifts late in the period. Andrew Ness with two large saves with about five minutes remaining, kept Vernon off the scoreboard. It was 2-0 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 19-5.

3rd Period: The Vipers re-grouped after a terrible 2nd period and come out ready to start the final frame. Luke Bibby got Vernon on the board 2:21 into the 3rd as the Snakes were skating hard, carried the edge in play, had more puck possession, zone time and more opportunities. The Vipers were the better team in the 3rd with a strong finish to the contest. Vees starting goaltender Andrew Ness made some solid saves keeping this a one goal game. Ness come up with his two biggest saves of the period towards the end of the period, robbing the Vipers in close. The Vipers couldn't catch a break or capitalize on their chances. Penticton didn't get a whole lot of opportunities, did manage two breakaways but Vipers starting netminder Colin Reay was also solid in the Viper crease. The Vees played well defensively didn't muster a ton of offence, caught a few breaks. Penticton won 2-1. Shots were 11-11.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Julian Facchinelli made his return to the Viper lineup after being out with a lengthy injury and played well in his return.

Luke Bibby (1 goal) Didn't stand out all evening but did play well at different times tonight

Isaac Fecteau (1 assist) Played well on Vernon's blueline

Lukas McCloskey (1 assist) Was another defenceman that played well. I have really been impressed with McCloskey's play as of late and thought he's played very well lately

Colin Reay (39 saves) Was solid in goal for the Snakes, kept his team in the game with several big stops. Reay was run into by a Vees forward about midway through the middle frame and went down, looked to be in some discomfort but stayed in the game and looked fine.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers are 1-2-0-0 vs the Vees this season

- The Snakes play six of their next eight games on the road

- Vernon held their own tonight and gave the hometown Vees a good run

- The Vipers give up way too many shots as Penticton outshoots Vernon 41-25

- The Vipers went 0-1 with the man advantage

- The Snakes got off to a bit of a slow start but I thought had a slight edge in play in the 1st period

- The Vipers are 0-2-0-0 in Penticton this season

- Forward Julian Facchinelli returned to the Vipers lineup after being out with a lengthy injury

- I thought Vernon played well defensively for most of the hockey game

- Not a whole lot of Viper fans at tonight's game. I spotted only a small handful of fans in attendance

- Your not going to win many hockey games with five shots in a period. The Vipers had five shots on goal in the 2nd period

- Newly acquired forward Carson McGinley didn't play tonight

- Since the Vipers started the season 7-1-0-0 they have gone 12-11-1-0

- The Vipers were badly outplayed in the 2nd period. Vernon was outshot 19-5 needed eleven minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Vipers were outskated. The Snakes saw a lot of time in their own end, relied on Colin Reay to bail them out.

- The Vipers next game is Saturday vs the visiting Coquitlam Express

- Since 2006 I have missed only two Vipers games in Penticton

- Vernon played their best period in the 3rd and were the better of the two teams. The Vipers scored early, carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and had the better of the opportunities. The Snakes didn't catch a break or capitalize on their chances.

- The Vipers have lost seventeen of their last eighteen games vs the Vees

- The Vipers were physical and finished their checks

- Forward Luke Pakulak looked to lose an edge about five minutes into the 2nd period, went hard into the end boards and didn't get up. Pakulak looked to be in pain, was down for several minutes before needing several players to help him off the ice and to the Viper dressing room. Pakulak wasn't putting any weight on his right leg/knee and didn't return to the hockey game. Pakulak has been injured twice this season

- The Vipers fall to 8-7-0-0 on the road this season

- The Vipers and Vees meet again for the final time this season, February 16th in Penticton

- The Snakes have lost four straight road games

- Other then the 2nd period this was a good/entertaining hockey game

- The Vipers last regular season win in Penticton was a 2-1 overtime victory on October 18th 2019

- Forward Patrick Kral made his Vipers debut tonight

- The Vipers have won three of their last five games but lost six of their last ten games

- After Christmas all teams finish the regular season wearing their road jerseys at home and their home jerseys on the road. Tonight the Vees were wearing their home white jerseys while the Vipers were wearing their navy blue road jerseys

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 19-12-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference

Penticton Vees Top Performers:

Noaln Stevenson Saw a ton of minutes, was very steady on Penticton's backend this evening

Ryan MacPherson Was one of the more dangerous Vees forwards. This kid is quick, can move the puck, was hard to defend and created/generated several opportunities

Zach Stringer (1 goal) I thought played well in the win over Vernon December 31st had another solid night tonight

Andrew Ness (24 saves) Was good between the pipes. Made one large save towards the end of the 2nd period, keeping the Snakes off the scoreboard and then made his biggest two saves late in the 3rd with the Vipers pressing.

Game Thought's: Penticton Vees

- The Vees are 14-1-0-0 at home this season

- Both goaltenders played very well

- A large crowd this evening. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,867

- Other then the middle frame, this was a fairly even hockey game with both teams having an edge in play at different times

- The Vees went 1-2 on the power play

- The Vees only loss at home was a 2-1 loss December 9th vs Salmon Arm

- I really like Penticton's power play. The Vees move the puck around, always seem to either get a quick shot from the point or find an open forward down low for a quick shot or opportunity from in close

- The Vees next game is Saturday vs the visiting Cranbrook Bucks

- Tonight's the first game of a four game home stand

- The Vees only have two players returning from last season's Championship team

- The Vees were physical tonight and finished their checks

- Penticton has a very good hockey team but isn't dominating the league as in past years. The league seems to be more evenly matched this season

- The Vees have won three of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games

- Penticton played well defensively, blocked shots and got some timely saves from Andrew Ness

- With the win, Penticton improves to 23-6-2-2 sit 1st in the Interior Conference and tied in points with the Surrey Eagles

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Noah Dorey (Injured)

Owen King (Out for the season)