Vipers strike with 4 straight goals to top Chiefs in OT

It wasn't the way the Vernon Vipers drew up how to get two points, but in the end, two points is exactly what the Vipers got. It was a gritty and gutsy effort by the team and they would skate away with a 5-4 win in Overtime.


For the first time in a while the Viper penalty kill struggled as the Chiefs would open the scoring as Ben Butcher would put in a rebound to get the home team off to a good start. It was a pretty even first period of play with both goaltenders playing solid. Vernon capitalized on a late powerplay as Jason Bird would let a laser of a slap shot go through a large screen in front of Lyndon Stanwood to get the game tied up after 1 period.


The second period was all Chilliwack. Momentum can be a funny thing and it didn't take long for it to sway solely in the Chiefs favour. It all got started on the powerplay as some good movement resulted in a shot to the net and a deflection from Carter Cochrane to give Chilliwack the lead. That really sparked the Chiefs and TJ Roche would increase the lead with a shot through traffic from the point that eluded everyone to increase their lead to 2. Late in the period a scramble in front of the Vernon net resulted in Kurt Black knocking home his 4^th of the season to give Chilliwack a big 4-1 lead heading into the 3^rd period.


The hole was deep for the Vipers, but evidently not deep enough. The comeback started late in the period as Mason Blacklock scored his first of two on the night to get the Vipers within 2. Liam Coughlin would cut the lead to 1 with his first in 12 games. Then from the same spot on the ice as his first goal, Mason Blacklock would score his 2^nd of the game to get it tied with just 90 seconds left in regulation. Credit to the Chiefs, following a time out they nearly re-took the lead but a big shot block and a big save from Todosychuk set the scene for an overtime thriller.


In the extra frame, a shot from McNicholas would be kicked out by Stanwood right to the stick of Jason Bird and he'd make no mistake for his second of the game and a huge comeback win for the Snakes.


My 3 Key Thoughts

1. Momentum lost then found – In the second period the Vipers looked lost and really out of sync. A lot of credit has to go to the Chiefs for capitalizing on their powerplays and skating hard. As quickly as the momentum was in Chilliwacks favour, it switched to the Vernon side in the final period. The Vipers peppered Lyndon Stanwood before the levees broke and the Vipers scored 4 answered.
   
2. Refusal to Quit – It had to be frustrating for the Vipers who had some great chances but were stymied at every turn from a phenomenal goaltending performance from Lyndon Stanwood. They could easily have gotten down on themselves, but kept pushing and finally got the game tied.
   
3. Injury Bug Strikes Again – Dexter Dancs took the pregame skate, but didn't play with an undisclosed injury. Josh Betinol left early with an injury as well. That forced some changes including Michael Statchuk playing forward and even taking a faceoff. Its gritty efforts like tonight, that help bring teams together.
   

Jason Williamson put it best in the post game show when he said “good teams find ways to win”. Wins like this one and the one last weekend in Salmon Arm are exactly what this team needs right now before they hit the road for three tough ones on the island next weekend.



Up next is a weeknight matchup against the Trail Smoke Eaters Tuesday night at Kal Tire Place. Its an internet only broadcast and you can tune in starting at 6:45.