A Different Day, Similar Result as Vipers lose 3-2 in OT

For the 4th straight game, the Vernon Vipers failed to win a game.  Tonight however, you saw flashes of what could make the team successful, but you also saw what has plagued the team.  A positive no doubt was getting a point, the negative, letting one slip away to a division rival.

Vernon got off to a great start, and really looked like they had responded to the extensive practice they were a part of earlier in the week.  The Vipers powerplay continued to look strong and got the Snakes on the board first as Mason Blacklock continued his hot streak with a snipe from the right circle.  The forecheck also went to work which would allow Vernon to increase their lead as Craig Martin would bury a loose puck past Connor LaCouvee.  Towards the end of the period however, momentum, for whatever reason started to shift in the Centennials favour.  That trait would continue through the end of the period and into the second.

Offensively, not much went right for the Vipers.  One big positive, the play of goaltender Austin Smith.  He was brilliant at times, and even times when he was fighting the puck, he kept his team in the lead.  The quality chances started to stack up for Merritt, and it was only a matter of time before Gavin Gould found himself open and snapped a well placed wrister over Smith's glove to get Merritt on the board.  Play would slow through the middle portion of the period with each team getting a handful of chances.  Merritt would capitalize on a loose puck in front of Smith, where the Vipers goalie had to make a few saves on his belly, before Payton Schaefer would finally jam it home to tie the game.

Both teams looked rather tentative in the third.  For Merritt it could've been fatigue playing with 2 fewer players and having played the night before.  For Vernon, any number of things, but neither team could put the other away.  It was a goaltending duel in the final frame as Smith and LaCouvee battled hard to give their teams an edge.  Regulation time would come and go with the game tied at 2.

In overtime the Vipers had an early chance at a two on one which was turned away by LaCouvee.  That would lead to some offensive time for the Cents and a nice give and go from Patterson to Gould would end the game as the Centennial forward would score his second for another tough loss for Vernon.

My 3 Key Thoughts

1) I have a strong suspicion its only a matter of time before this team learns how to put teams away.  Its been a struggle for the Vipers to hold on to leads and tonight was no different.  They need to learn that killer instinct that championship calibre teams have.  It's a hard lesson to learn and this team is going through that phase right now.

2) Austin Smith was outstanding tonight.  He was lucky on a few occasions where pucks would hit goal posts, and not go in.  But he was also very aggressive and controlled his rebounds well.  It will be very interesting to see how the goaltending tandem sorts itself out over the next handful of games.

3) Its hard not to give credit to the opposition tonight.  The Merritt Centennials came off a tough emotional loss the night before.  They had 6 regulars out of the lineup and didn't even ice a 4th line, yet were as competitive as ever and gave Vernon all they could handle.  Early in the season its easy to see teams that are well conditioned and tonight the Cents sure showed that.

Next up for the Vipers a head to head matchup against the defending Interior Division Champs the Vees.  That broadcast will be an internet only cast and I'll have the link for that in the coming days.  Of course you can catch it on FastHockey PPV as well.  Pre game show will start at 6:45 with the play by play starting at 7.