vipersdiehardfan blog: Game Recap

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-Trail Smoke Eaters game as the Vipers defeated the Smoke Eaters 3-2 in front of 2,525 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Trail Smoke Eaters: Teagan Kendrick

1st Period: I thought even though the Snakes gave up the opening goal thirty four seconds into the hockey game, I thought Vernon played hard, competed, were skating, full of jump/energy, had a slight edge in play. I thought the Vipers had the better scoring chances. The Smoke Eaters who were coming off a night off on Friday, come ready to play, played hard, competed in a very even matched period at times. Trail didn't get a whole lot of looks/opportunities. This was an entertaining period. Both teams went 0-1 with the man advantage. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Trail 9-6.

2nd Period: For a second straight period the Smokies open the scoring inside the opening minute of play. The Smokies with a strong forecheck, were on top of Vernon early and often, had the early jump, edge in play and had the Vipers back on their heels early to start the period. Trail had at least three odd man rushes but couldn't capitalize. As the period continued the Snakes got better and were the better team in the second half. The Vipers with two 2nd period goals, took their first lead of the hockey game. Payton Struck rang a shot off the far post about six minutes into the period. Vernon had several looks/opportunities as Teagan Kendrick played well in goal for Trail. The hometown Vipers had the better of the play, more zone time and puck possession in the second half. It was 3-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smokies 11-10.

3rd Period: This was a strong period by the Vernon Vipers as the Snakes were the better team in the final twenty minutes. Vernon with lots of puck possession, zone time, created/generated chances, played well at both ends of the rink. The Smoke Eaters saw a lot of time in their own end, had troubles offensively, didn't generate much offensively. The Vipers went 0-3 with the man advantage, while the Smokies went 0-1 on the PP. Trail gets Teagan Kendrick to the bench for the extra attacker with just over a minute remaining but the Smokies unable to gain a ton of offensive zone pressure, Vernon hits the post and misses the net on an open cage but hang on for a 3-2 victory. Vernon outshoots Trail 8-5.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

The line of Payton Struck (1 goal), Luke Bibby (1 assist) and Luke Pakulak (1 assist) was real strong, played well at both ends of the rink. Struck got the Vipers on the board, also hit the post, while Pakulak blocked a couple of shots on the PK and Bibby was going up and down the wing, played well at both ends of the rink.

Etienne Lessard has really stepped into the Vipers lineup and looks very comfortable after playing in only his second game with his new hockey club. Lessard really sees the ice well, can skate, move the puck and fits in on the PP

Adam Csabi (1 assist) I thought was the Snakes most dangerous and best player this evening. Csabi was all over the ice, gave Trail defenders all kinds of trouble. Using his speed/quickness opened the ice in a hurry, was making plays happen, created/generated opportunities

Lukas McCloskey The former Wenatchee Wild d-man played very well on the Viper blueline

Ethan David (19 saves) Wasn't the busier of the two goaltenders but was still forced to making a few key saves during tonight's contest

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Snakes next game is Friday in Penticton

- The Vipers gave up a goal inside the opening minute in the 1st and 2nd periods. Ridge Dawson scored at 0:34 of the 1st while Mathieu Cobetto-Roy scored at 0:36 of the 2nd period

- Tonight was the fourth and final game of a four game home stand

- I thought Vernon played a much better game compared to the 4-0 win over Cranbrook on Friday

- I don't want to take away from a hard fought win and back to back wins this weekend, but I still don't think the Vipers are the same Viper team we saw to start the season. A Viper team that started the season 7-1-0-0 hasn't looked or played the same since early November. I understand they had several key players out with injuries but I would like to see some kind of improvement from the other players that have to step up and fill the void of the injured players or as the injured players start to return, see this Viper team return back to it's forum we saw at the start of the season

- The Vipers power play struggled in the win over Cranbrook on Friday, was much better this evening. Even though the Vipers went 0-4 Vernon's PP gained some zone time, shots on goal, created/generated some chances and looked good

- The Vipers are 1-2-0-0 vs Trail

- I thought the Vipers played very well in the 1st period in a period where it was fairly even. I would give a slight edge to Vernon who had more scoring chances and a little more zone time at times. The Snakes created/generated some opportunities, played well defensively, only gave up six shots on goal

- The Vipers play four of their next five games on the road

- Other then the first seven to eight minutes I thought Vernon was the better team in the 2nd period. Trail had the Vipers back on their heels, hemmed in their own end for a bit but the Snakes re-grouped, scoring two second period goals, played well in the second half

- The next time these two teams play, January 27th in Trail

- Vernon went 0-4 with the man advantage

- I thought the Vipers played very well defensively in the 3rd, limited Trail's opportunities and getting pucks to the net

- The Snakes struggled at times, made some poor passes, defensive errors and mistakes but a much better performance/effort after last night

- The Vipers improve to 11-4-1-0 at Kal Tire Place

- I really liked the Vipers 3rd period as I thought Vernon was the better team. The Vipers played well at both ends of the rink, didn't capitalize with the man advantage but did get some good looks/zone time and played very well defensively, limiting the Smoke Eaters offensive opportunities as well as only surrendering five shots on goal

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

- How big was tonight's win? Prior to tonight, the Smokies were five points back of Vernon

- Payton Struck hit the post in the 2nd period

- Tonight was the Vipers first win over Trail this season

- Give the Vipers credit for giving up a breakaway goal thirty four seconds into the hockey game, re-grouping, tying the game and moving on. Then to give up a second early goal, this time thirty six seconds into the 2nd period, but again Vernon re-grouped, this time scored the next two goals, wich ended up being the game tying and game winning goals

- Another good size crowd tonight. How great have the crowds been this year? Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,525

- With the win, Vernon improves to 19-11-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference

Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:

Ethan Warrener (1 assist) Logged a lot of minutes on the blueline, played well in the loss

Patrick Reilly was another Trail defender that saw a lot of ice time and played well on the backend

Mathieu Cobetto-Roy (1 goal) Is quick on his feet, can move the puck, make plays happen in a hurry, played well

Teagan Kendrick (25 saves) Played very well between the pipes for the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters. Kept the Smokies in the contest with some large saves at different times in the hockey game. Has a quick glove, made at least three saves with the leather. A bigger goaltender that covers a lot of the twin

Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters

- The last time these two teams played, the Smoke Eaters won 5-2 December 8th in Trail

- I spotted a few Smokies fans at tonight's game

- Tonight's the second and final game of a two game road trip

- Ridge Dawson opened the scoring thirty four seconds into the hockey game

- I thought Trail played very well in the 1st period, held their own vs the Vipers. Opened the scoring, battled/competed, but didn't get enough pucks to the net or generate enough offensive chances

- Trail went 0-2 with the power play

- Your not going to win many hockey games, with only six shots in the 1st period and five shots in the 3rd period

- The Smoke Eaters next game is at home Friday to the visiting Langley Rivermen

I thought Trail played hard and a very good opening frame, had a good start to the 2nd period but couldn't keep pace and playing the same for the full twenty minutes and then had a real let down in the 3rd in a period where they were outplayed and didn't do enough for a team that was down a goal

- Assistant Coach Dallas Calvin played with the 2013-14 Vernon Vipers

- The Smokies are quick, can skate, move the puck but didn't generate a whole lot of offence

- Trail with another quick start to a period. Mathieu Cobetto-Roy scored thirty six seconds into the 2nd period. The Smoke Eaters had the early jump on Vernon to start the period, played with an aggressive forecheck, were winning battles, races to the puck, had the Snakes on their heels but couldn't sustain that pressure, allowing the hometown Vipers to re-group and score two second period goals

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

- Trail has six overtime losses this season

- Down 3-2 heading into the 3rd I thought I would have seen more of a push back from the Smoke Eaters. Trail saw a lot of time in their own end, had troubles getting pucks to the net, zone time and puck possession. The Smokies struggled offensively in the final frame

- With the loss, Trail falls to 13-12-6-0 sit 5th in the Interior Conference

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Jordin Palmer (Injured)

Noah Dorey (Injured)

Julian Facchinelli (Injured)

Owen King (Out for the season)

Jiri Duda

Maks Percic

Trail Smoke Eaters:

Adam Marshall

Jason Stefanek