The Vernon Vipers did a fantastic job of putting Tuesday nights game behind them. They rebounded nicely with a complete 60 minute effort that saw them outshoot and outchance a Warrior squad which found themselves banged up at the final buzzer.
The first period saw some nice free flow between teams very reminiscent of the beginning of Tuesdays game as the feeling out process began. Although unlike the night before I thought the Vipers were skating harder, pressuring more effectively and limiting the quality chances of the Warriors to just a handful. The Vipers would take advantage of a rare Warrior mistake as a turnover at the right circle was snapped home by Brett Mulcahy past a surprised Andy Desautels to make it 1-0.
The Vipers would get a powerplay early on in the second period and kept the plan of attack really simple. Shoot and crash the crease. That philosophy worked to perfection as Brett Mulcahy put home a rebound in the crease after a point shot to make it 2-0 Vernon. That seemed to spark the Vipers even more as Brendan Persley started and finished a pretty play by blocking a shot and turning it the other way to snap home his first of the post season to make it 3-0. The Warriors had a few shifts in a row in the offensive zone after the Persley goal and that pressure paid off as Matt Anholt found a rebound and made it 3-1 after 2.
The Vipers did a nice job in the third of nursing the lead without playing a lot of time in the defensive zone. They didn't necessarily push the pace, but sure didn't sit back on their heels. There would be a five minute major for kneeing assessed to Dallas Calvin (which I'll speak of later) and that allowed the Warriors to finish the game on the man advantage, but some nice board work from Sparrow kicked the puck to centre and Mulcahy would score his third of the night into an empty net to make it 4-1 and tie the series up at 1.
My 3 Key Thoughts
1) - What a Difference 24 Hours Made - That alone sums up the performance of the Vipers. They were much better in every zone forechecking more effectively, slowing down the Warrior break out and staying disciplined while playing extremely physical. All 4 lines were rolling for the Vipers and they seemed in control for a good part of this game.
2) - Injury Bug Strikes Tribe - By the end of the game, the Warriors were without arguably their best defenseman and most consistent forward. Adam Plant and Seb Lloyd were both injured during the game and neither one were able to skate off on their own. For Plant it came from a clean check from Colton Sparrow and was just an unfortunate injury. As for Seb Lloyd, it was one of those freak knee on knee collisions where Dallas Calvin went to throw a body check and as Lloyd tried to get out of the way went knee on knee. The result was a 5 minute major and Lloyd in a significant amount of pain. There was no update on either conditions, but I will say there was no intent to injure on the part of Calvin who was just attempting a run of the mill body check. Its unfortunate to see those players get injured and for the Warriors it only adds to the laundry list of injured players.
3) - Back To Kal Tire - For the Vipers the series split was crucial, they now head back to the friendly confines that only saw them lose 6 times in regulation on home ice. The Warriors were only able to get two points during the regular season in Kal Tire Place, a 2-2 tie and a 3-2 OT loss. Jason Williamson said that the team needs to have a short memory for the bad things and the good things, but can't forget what made them successful in Game 2. The Warriors are banged up, but still have a lot of depth and will do all they can to steal home ice advantage back.
Game 3 goes Friday night from Kal Tire Place starting at 6:45 with the pregame show and puck drop at 7 on 107.5 KissFM.
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