Vipers Smother Smokies 4-1

The Vernon Vipers began a busy week on Wednesday and kicked it off with a very tidy 4-1 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters.  The Vipers were able to generate a lot of offense and had it not been for the great play of Brett Clark, the score could've been higher.  Defensively, the team was good, but still leaving something to be desired.  The main goal is to limit the defensive mistakes and they made a few, but overall it was a good effort all the way around to help get them the two points.

The Vipers started quickly with the first three shifts of the game being spent in the Trail zone.  The Smoke Eaters adapted nicely to the pressure and with the help of Clark kept the game scoreless.  A late powerplay for the Smokies led to some quality scoring chances of their own, but after the first 20 minutes the game remained scoreless.

In the second, the pace was slower and deliberate until the physicality picked up.  The Vipers would capitalize on a nice odd man rush as Luke Voltin wired home a shot from the left circle that went post and in.  That lead wouldn't last long as Kienan Scott would steal a puck at his own blue line and break in and slip a puck five hole to tie the game up at 1.  It wasn't until a late powerplay for the Vipers that they would get the lead back as TJ Dumonceaux jumped on a end board bounce that found its way to the slot and in turn the back of the net.  The Vipers were up 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Anthony Latina would score an important goal early in the third to increase the lead to 3-1 as Trever Fidler stole a puck behind the net and fed the Viper veteran in front.  Once the Vipers got the two goal lead they continued to carry the play, but also efficiently in their own end.  TJ Dumonceaux hit two goal posts and Jarrod Schamerhorn made all 7 saves in the third to get the Vipers to their second straight win.

Here is the scoring summary:

Period 1

No Scoring

Period 2

Vernon Vipers - Luke Voltin (2) - (Williamson, Finlay) - 5:28
Trail Smoke Eaters - Kienan Scott (4) - (unassisted) - 8:52
Vernon Vipers - TJ Dumonceaux (3) - (PP) - (Shiplo, L. Coughlin) - 19:16

Period 3

Vernon Vipers - Anthony Latina (7) - (Fidler) - 2:26
Vernon Vipers - Liam Coughlin (6) - (EN) - (Dumonceaux) - 18:07

Shots - Trail 26    Vernon 39

Powerplays - Trail 0 for 3        Vernon 1 for 3

The Vipers busy week will continue Friday as they make the short trip to the Shaw Centre.  The Vipers hold a victory over the Silverbacks who have lost 4 straight games.  You can catch all the action on 107.5 KissFM starting at 6:45.