What a difference a day makes for the Vernon Vipers. A night after giving up a two goal lead and being caught on their heels, the Vipers tightened up when it mattered and really quieted a Vees rally. The Vipers spread the scoring around nicely and will ensure they get another home date scheduled for Friday night.
Just like a night before, the Vipers carried the play to start game 4. They were buzzing around the Vees goal and hitting anything that moved. Not only were they carrying the momentum, they were also generating shots on goal. At one point in the period the shots were 10-2 Vipers which was more than half the shots they generated in game 3. The Vipers scored first for the third time in the series as Brendan Persely fresh off the bench took a pass on the right circle and in full stride snapped a hard wrist shot through a screened Olivier Mantha. The Vees would respond on the powerplay as Brett Beauvais fired a pass to the side of the net where Nic Pierog rifled a quick shot five hole on Austin Smith to tie it up. That score would hold up through 20 minutes.
The second period was the best period for the Vees and saw them take the lead off a crazy pinball play where the puck rattled off the glass bounced to Serratore who was stopped then bounced to Alferd who flipped the puck past Smith. The game settled in through the midway points of the period as both teams were fantastic defensively and both forechecks got in some licks on the defenders. Momentum seemed to change after a gigantic body check from Dylan Chanter on Matt Serratore. A clean, bone jarring check at the Viper line got the crowd and the Viper bench invigorated. Credit to Serratore, he looked woozy, but missed maybe a shift but was back out there for the rest of the game. The Vipers then hemmed the Vees in their own zone and it lead to a point shot from Riley Guenther that went post and in past a screened Mantha and the game was tied. Less than two minutes later the Vipers again would hold the line and after a nice slap pass to McNicholas, the Vipers found themselves up 3-2 after 2 periods.
The pressure was on the home team in the third without question. They desperately needed to hold this lead and even the series and they played like a team that had learned their lesson. They played with energy and were tenacious in their own zone. They limited time and space for the Vees offensive players and were smart at exiting the zone. Just like in game 1, it was Colton Sparrow giving the Vipers the key goal as he would fight of the corner and slip a changeup past Mantha to give the Vipers a crucial two goal lead. Brendan Persley would tack on an empty netter and the final score would end 5-2 to even the series at 2 games apiece.
My 3 Key Thoughts
1) - Consistent Effort - The Vipers had one win under their belt in the series, but I thought this was by far their best all around effort. From the goaltender out, the team just seemed to be on the same page at all times. At times during this series the Vipers had been guilty of letting off the gas pedal and allowing the Vees to dominate in the offensive zone. Tonight was a different story. They out shot the Vees for the first time in the series and kept the top line of Benoit, McClure and Cooper off the board for the first time. The Vipers will need more of the same effort to win the series because they will have to win at least one more time at teh SOEC.
2) - Brad McClure - This guy is a dynamic hockey player. He has the ability to carry a team on his shoulder. This is not meant to call him out, but more put into perspective how good the Vipers played on this night. For the first time in 12 games, dating back to the regular season, Brad McClure was held pointless. He has 24 points in those 12 games which averages to two points a game over that stretch. Thats an incredible streak. The Vipers barely allowed him a sniff in game 4 and ended the point scoring streak. You don't keep a guy like McClure off the score sheet often and the Vipers will have to keep limiting his chances in whats become a best of 3 series.
3) - Defensive Tandem - Its a big honor for defensemen to be tasked with shutting down a teams top line. Tonight it was Riley Guenther and Josh Bryan who were out there almost everytime the Vees top line was out. Not only did they accomplish that feat, they both chimed in with offensive contributions with Riley Guenther scoring the tying goal in the second period and Josh Bryan setting up two goals. At this point in the playoffs you need different guys to step up and tonight it was those two on the defensive and offensive side.
This series has now become a best of 3 with the series heading back to Penticton for game 5. It happens Thursday night at the SOEC and you can hear all the action starting at 6:45 with the pregame show and play by play starting at 7 on 107.5 KissFM.
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