The Vernon Vipers came into Sundays game with the Coquitlam Express tired and sick, as a flu bug was running wild through the dressing room. Despite a valiant effort from the team, they just couldn't hold onto a lead and the Express were able to come back with three goals in the third to defeat the Vipers for the first time in 5 games.
The Vipers found themselves behind early while shorthanded as the Vipers failed to clear the zone. Once the puck stayed in, despite a great try to get back in position, Marc Biega was able to snap a shot over the shoulder of Austin Smith. The shift after a goal is said to be one of the most important and the Vipers had a very good one. Just 18 seconds after giving up the goal, the Vipers went on the attack with a simple strategy shot to the goal, rebound, centering pass and a goal. Michael McNicholas would score his 5th of the road trip. I thought that would be a rallying point and a strategy that would be employed throughout the rest of the game. However, the Express clogged up the neutral zone preventing much access into the Coquitlam zone. At times it seemed the Vipers had trouble getting through the middle and the Express were using their speed to slow down the Viper offense. The period would end in a 1-1 draw.
The second was the Vipers best period. They killed off 3 penalties and moved their feet and drew one of their own to make it 4 on 4 and Vernon seemed very comfortable as Jared Wilson would walk into slap shot to beat Gordie Defiel and give the Vipers a lead they would take into the intermission.
A carryover powerplay in the third would give the Express their 5th powerplay and they would tie it up early as Ryan Rosenthal would tip the shot and put home a rebound to make it 2-2. I'm not sure if it was fatigue, but the Vipers didn't look as sharp in the third. The Express would catch the Vipers looking at the puck and Ben Israel would wire a slap shot to give Coquitlam a 3-2 lead. Canon Pieper would put it away with an empty netter to seal a 4-2 victory for the Express.
My 3 Key Thoughts
1) Heck Of An Effort - For a team that had 2 tough wins, a ton of travel adversity a flu bug run through their dressing room, the Vernon Vipers gave it everything they had. Even while down a goal, this team still put pucks in deep doing whatever they could to try tie the game up. This time they would come up short, but hard work has been there and it shows in the standings.
2) Penalties - In the end it would be the Express powerplay that proved to be the difference. The Vipers took 5 penalties and most of them were stick infractions. Most nights the PK has bailed them out, but the Express powerplay moved the puck well and no fault could be put on the penalty killers. The only reason I make note of the penalties is because it factored in the end results. This team has been discipline all season and will put it behind them.
3) Start A New Streak - The nice thing about a winning streak of 4 games coming to an end, is that the players are that much more motivated to start a new one with more wins. The team knew they weren't at their best, but they are a determined group from the coaching staff down to the players and will look to end 2013 the right way in their final 3 games.
Next up for the Vipers is teddy bear toss night on Friday against the Trail Smoke Eaters at Kal Tire Place. The game will be on 107.5 KissFM starting at 6:45.
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