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 2.9 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 Game 4 Playoff game between the Vernon Vipers & Penticton Vees as the Vipers took Game 4 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,805 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Penticton Vees: Andrew Ness
2nd Period: The Vees dominated the middle frame, outskated, outshot and outworked Vernon for most of the period. For a second straight period, the Vees carried most of the play, had a ton more puck possession, zone time and were all over Vernon in the offensive zone with a aggressive forecheck. The Vees had some good looks/chances but couldn't capitalize. The Snakes were badly outplayed for most of the period, struggled to get shots on goal and generate any kind of offence. The Vipers went well over ten minutes without a single shot on goal. Vernon was being beat to the puck, losing a lot of the races, one on one battles and struggled making a pass most of the evening. Isaac Tremblay would get the Vipers on the board at 14:28 cutting Penticton's lead to 2-1. It stayed 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 9-3 Penticton.
3rd Period: For the first time in almost three games, the Vipers were the better team. With their season on the line, the Snakes responded with one of their best periods since Game 1. The Vipers had a edge in play, were finally getting pucks to the net, were generating some offence, finally getting some play in the offensive zone and played with a lot of jump/energy. Erik Pastro tied the game 2-2 at 14:22 The Vees for the first time in this series, were making mistakes, turning over pucks, missing some passes and didn't look very sharp. Both teams power play's struggled as both teams went 0-2 with the man advantage. The Vipers PK had to come up large towards the end of the game killing off a minor with 2:10 remaining in a tie hockey game. It was 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Shots were 12-9 Vernon.
Overtime: Both teams would get a very good look/opportunity early before Vipers captain Connor Elliott's seeing eye shot found the back of the net at 5:12 giving the hometown Vipers a 3-2 overtime victory and forcing a Game 5. Shots were 3-2 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Ethan David (28 saves) Down 2-0 the Vipers veteran goaltender made several key saves keeping this not only a two goal game but giving his team a chance to stay in the hockey game. David has been very good all season and kept the Snakes in this series
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Game 5 goes Friday in Penticton
- Games 3 & 4 both started at 8:15pm due to the Womens Esso Cup Tournament being played at Kal Tire Place this week
- Tonight is the Vipers second win in their last twenty three games vs Penticton
- This is the 24th time in franchise history Vernon & Penticton have played in the Playoffs
- The Snakes had one, maybe two opportunities in the 1st period otherwise were outplayed the entire opening frame. Vernon with only three shots in the period, went lengthy periods of time without a single shot. The Vipers saw a lot of action in their own end, were being beat to the puck, losing the battles, struggled to make a pass, struggled to get pucks on net and generate any kind of offence. When the Snakes did get the puck and manage to get into the offensive zone, the Vees took away time and space, blocked shots and kept Vernon's shooters to the outside
- The Vipers improve to 4-1 at home in the Playoffs
- Vernon went 0-4 with the man advantage
- The Vipers went 1-4-0-0 vs Penticton during the regular season
- Vipers defenceman/captain Connor Elliott played 4 games with the 2019-20 Penticton Vees
- It seemed like Vernon couldn't make a pass all night
- The Vipers didn't play with a ton of jump/energy, seemed to get some momentum/life off a Isaac Tremblay goal late in the 2nd period, played with a ton of jump/energy in the 3rd
- Up until the 3rd period, other then Ethan David I didn't notice a single Viper that stood out or played well in the first two periods
- In the 1980s-1990s the Vernon Lakers home games started at 8pm
- The first two periods were very one sided and not even close as the Vipers were badly outplayed
- The Vipers power play was awful. Vernon struggled all night with the man advantage.
- Owen Kim hit the post/crossbar on a 1st period power play
- Another small crowd this evening. Tonight's attendance was announced at 1,805
- The Vipers were badly outplayed in the 2nd period. The Snakes played most of the period in their own end, were outskated, outshot and beat to the puck/losing puck battles. Vernon gave up a lot of opportunities and had to rely on Ethan David to bail them out. The Vipers for a second straight period, had troubles shooting/getting pucks to the net. Vernon with just six shots on goal in two periods. The Vipers have struggled offensively in both home games this series, had troubles creating/generating chances this period. Isaac Tremblay with a late goal, got the Vipers on the board but also gave the team some life, momentum and energy that carried into the 3rd period
- Including the regular season and playoffs, the Vipers have won thirteen of their last seventeen home games
- Shea Busch missed the net on a 1st period breakaway
- The Vipers thought they scored about the midway mark of the 2nd period on a scramble in and around the Vees crease. The goal light went on but the play continued
- I really liked Vernon's PK and thought they played very well this evening and one of the reasons they are forcing a Game 5. Sure the Vipers PK gave up a couple of looks/opportunities but for the majority held the Vees to the outside and limited their chances
- I sure didn't see the Vipers winning tonight. After the Snakes were outplayed and dominated in Games 2 & 3 I thought the season would be over tonight
- Vernon struggled getting shots on goal, either had their shots blocked or they weren't shooting. The Vipers had two shots in last night's 2nd period, three shots in last night's 3rd period and three shots in tonight's 1st period and 2nd period
- How big was Ethan David in the first two periods? With the Snakes down 2-0 David was forced to make some key saves or it could have easily been 3-0 or 4-0 and the series would have ended tonight
- With the win, Vernon improves to 5-4 in the Playoffs
- Give the Snakes credit for not mailing in the 3rd period and calling it a season. The Vipers seemed to change the momentum with a late 2nd period goal and build off it into the 3rd. The Vipers with one of their better periods since Game 1 were the better team in the 3rd, carried the play, had the edge in play, more zone time and more time with the puck. For the first time in what seems like forever, the Vipers were able to get some pucks to the net and get some zone time. How big was the penalty kill late in the hockey game to send this game to overtime?
- With a late start to tonight's game and a much smaller crowd then the Vipers have been getting, it was pretty quiet with very little atmosphere inside Kal Tire Place during the first two periods. The Vees fans were the ones making all the noise. It wasn't until the 3rd when the Viper faithful got into the hockey game and started making some noise as the game picked up/was exciting
- The Vipers were outplayed for most of the first two periods and very lucky to even still be in the hockey game heading into the 3rd. Another goal or two by the Vees in either the 1st or 2nd period and this game/series is all but over. The Vipers get some big saves from their goaltender and continue to battle to get to within a goal and then force overtime.
- How big was the overtime loss in Game 1? The Vipers were ahead 3-2 with two minutes remaining allowed the Vees to force overtime before giving up a shorthanded goal to lose 4-3 in OT. If the Vipers hang on for a win in Game 1, this series is now tied 2-2 instead the Vees are ahead 3-1
Penticton Vees Top Performers:
Matthew Biotti (1 goal) A big body that can move the puck, gets the puck to the net, plays well at both ends of the rink, is physical, has that long reach, played very well in the loss tonight
Max Heise This kid is very quick, was hard to defend/contain, gave the Vernon defenders all kinds of trouble this evening. Has soft hands and good with the puck in tight
Connor MacPherson (1 goal) Opened the Vees scoring, was denied on a 1st period penalty shot, played well in the overtime loss
Anselmo Rego Scored the overtime winning goal in Game 1 stood out and played very well in the overtime loss in Game 4. This kid can skate, has skill and is another Vees forward that's hard to contain/defend
Thomas Pichette Has played well this entire series, played well tonight
Andrew Ness (18 saves) Wasn't tested much at all in the first two periods. Only faced six Vernon shots after two periods but had to be sharp in the 3rd with the Vipers pressing
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- The Vees suffer their first playoff loss on the road
- A good size crowd of Vees fans in attendance made a lot of noise and in the first two periods made much more noise over the Viper fans
- Penticton opened the scoring for the second straight game
- The Vees with an excellent 1st period, opened the scoring and took a 2-0 lead into the 2nd period. Penticton was the better team in the opening frame, had more puck possession, zone time, more shots, out chanced the Vipers and outskated Vernon. This was a good road period for the visitors
- Vees forward Callum Arnott is the nephew of former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Jason Arnott
- The Vees went 0-4 with the power play
- The Vees suffer their first loss of the Playoffs
- Penticton had several opportunities to put this game away and end the series in four straight, but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities and power play. With a 2-0 lead in the 1st period, the Vees had several chances in both the first two periods to extend the lead and couldn't. Instead, they allow Vernon back in the hockey game with a late goal in the 2nd period and then give up the game tying goal late in the 3rd before losing in overtime
- This team is very quick, can move the puck well and has a good transition game
- Penticton's penalty kill was very good, keeping the Snakes off the scoreboard as Vernon went 0-4 with the PP. The Vees PK kept Vernon's shooters to the outside, limited their time and space and with an aggressive forecheck, forced the Vipers into fumbling the puck or losing the puck
- Penticton is 3-1 on the road in the Playoffs
- The Vees played very well defensively in the first two periods, only gave up six shots after fourty minutes of play. Penticton keeps the Vipers to the outside, blocks a lot of shots, gets sticks in the way and keeps traffic away from the front of the blue paint
- The first two periods, it looked like the Vees were playing a team from a lower league as the ice was tilted in favor of the Vees after two periods
- The Vees dominated the 2nd period and for a second straight period were by far the better of the two teams. Penticton outplayed the Vipers. The Vees had a ton more puck possession, zone time, were generating chances, were winning the races and battles, play with an aggressive forecheck
- Larry Keenan hit the post on a 3rd period power play
- The Vees only have two players returning from last year's Championship team
- The Vees are 7-1 in the Playoffs
- Including the regular season and playoffs, the Vees nine game road winning streak comes to an end
- Penticton was by far the better team in the first two periods
- The Vees have been rotating goaltenders in the Playoffs and again tonight. Will Ingemann got the start in Game 3 while Andrew Ness got the start in Game 4
- The last time the Vees & Vipers played in the playoffs, Penticton won the best of seven playoff series 4 games to 3 in 2017
- For the first time in this series I saw Penticton make some mistakes in the 3rd period. The Vees missed some passes, turned over the puck, couldn't clear the zone, struggled in their own end, just didn't look very sharp in the 3rd allowing the Vipers to force overtime
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Payton Struck
Owen King (Injured-Out for season)
Linden Burrett
Nick Mikan (Injured)
Luke Pakulak
Penticton Vees:
Nate McIsaac
Daniel Buchbinder
Carson Lesiuk
Sharky Nowek
Energy Player of the Game:
Erik Pastro (1 goal)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Connor Elliott (Overtime winning goal)
2nd Star: Isaac Tremblay (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Andrew Ness (18 saves)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
I have just 2 words to say about Vernon's victory, Ethan David!
ReplyDeleteGreat win!! Good job, fellow fans not caught up in bashing ownership/thinking the Vipers are changing their name/being essential party poopers. We win!!
ReplyDeleteOne game does not change anything. I notice the attendance figures are being exaggerated. This usually means the company is cooking the books getting ready to sell. We can only hope!!!
ReplyDeleteYou “noticed”? Unless your ‘noticing’ includes a physical head count, your estimate doesn’t mean jack. And your accusations are strictly for the tinfoil hat wearers. Stop making crap up and try and be encouraging, your gloomy Gus routine is pathetic.
ReplyDeleteYou must be one of the owners, I thought they read this blog....Lol! I dont wear a tin hat but I bet you wear blinders!
ReplyDelete