Game 2 - Imoo Shines, Vipers Win 2-1

It was the Jonah Imoo show on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Interior Division Semi-Final between the Vipers and Centennials.  The 20 year old White Rock products was outstanding stopping 39 of 41 shots including many highlight reel saves to give his team a chance.  In the end it was two second period goals from the Vipers that made the difference as the Snakes skated away with a 2-0 series lead heading back to Merritt on Friday.

Tonight was an example of the Vernon Vipers at their best.  Despite only winning by a 1 goal margin, the Vipers controlled the play throughout 50 minutes of the 60 minute game.  It started in the first period as the Vipers got a quick start and peppered the Centennial goal early.  They were physical, tenacious and relentless on the puck.  They used their speed to win puck battles and generate turnovers which led to quality scoring chances.  It took 9 minutes before they allowed the Cents to get their first shot of the game.  Unfortunately for the Vipers on the second Merritt shot, they'd get a goal as Cole Chorney used a bit of hand eye to tip a point shot out of mid air and past Jarrod Schamerhorn to make it 1-0 Merritt.  That seemed to spark Merritt as they were able to slow the high octane Vipers down in the last 10 minutes of the period and skate into the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

It was more of the same in the second period as again the Vipers had a quick start and controlled essentially the entire period.  In the broadcast we counted 1 scoring chance for Merritt and they didn't register their first shot for nearly 14 minutes.  Again, Jonah Imoo was stellar and it was starting to look like the only way the Vipers were going to beat him was an ugly one he couldn't see.  That was Luke Voltin's goal in a nutshell.  He parked his big body in front and Johnny Coughlin's point shot hit him on its way to the net and handcuffed Imoo enough to cross the line and tie the game up at 1.  The Vipers would get a PP a few minutes later and off a wild scramble in front of Imoo, Liam Finlay would slide home his first of the playoffs to give the homeside a 2-1 lead after 2 periods.

As was the case in game 1, Merritt had their best period in the third.  But unlike a night ago, the Vipers were well prepared and handled the Centennials forecheck and work along the boards a bit better than the previous game and didn't give up many good chances.  The Vipers for their part didn't look like they were content to play a defensive style and just sit on the lead.  They pushed the pace as well and I thought it was a pretty entertaining period.  The Vipers had a number of opportunities to stretch the lead, but again Jonah Imoo made a number of phenomenal saves.  None larger than off Anthony Latina who had all day to walk in, but Imoo in desperation mode, lunged forward and got the tip of his glove on the shot to send it out of play.  Inside the final minute the Cents were able to gain the Viper zone and with Imoo on the bench get a few chances, but the Vipers stacked up in front of the net and blocked two big opportunities and hold on for the horn and a 2-1 win.

Here is the official box score from the BCHL website:

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Merritt Centennials at 10:14 - Cole Chorney from Jake Clifford and Stephan Seeger

PERIOD 2

1-1 Vernon Vipers at 11:35 - Luke Voltin from Johnny Coughlin and Mitch Meek

2-1 Vernon Vipers at 16:26 (PP) - Liam Finlay from TJ Dumonceaux and Liam Coughlin

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Merritt Centennials at 10:14 - Cole Chorney from Jake Clifford and Stephan Seeger

PERIOD 2

1-1 Vernon Vipers at 11:35 - Luke Voltin from Johnny Coughlin and Mitch Meek

2-1 Vernon Vipers at 16:26 (PP) - Liam Finlay from TJ Dumonceaux and Liam Coughlin

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

STARS OF THE GAME
1st STAR	2nd STAR	3rd STAR
Merritt Centennials Jonah Imoo	Vernon Vipers TJ Dumonceaux	Vernon Vipers Liam Finlay

It's not often you see a goaltender getting first star and a loss, but the decision seemed unanimous throughout Kal Tire Place.  Jarrod Schamerhorn was very solid as well making 18 saves on 19 shots.

The series now switches to Merritt for Friday night.  The Vipers will look to take a stranglehold on the series in front of what should be a very raucous Merritt crowd at the NVMA.  Puck drop from Merritt will be 7:30, catch the pregame show starting at 7:15.  Here are the listening/viewing options for you:

1) Listen with myself and Don Klepp...http://1075kiss.com/
2) Listen with voice of the Cents Dave Ashbaugh...http://www.q101.ca/
3) Watch live on Fasthockey...fasthockey.com

Thanks again for checking out the VipersVenom blog.  Feel free to shoot me a follow on Twitter...@GrahamT_Vipers.