Game 2 - Vees Take 2-0 Series Lead With 5-2 Win

Coming into game 2, after a fantastic game 1, expectations were high for another back and forth open hockey game.  Unfortunately that wasn't the case as frustrations would boil over and the Vipers would fall 5-2.  In game 1, the Vipers found themselves in penalty trouble, but were able to reel in their emotions and focus them in the right direction.  Game 2, it just didn't feel like those emotions could be brought in.  There was obvious concern for two fallen teammates as Liam Finlay was hit hard and didn't return and Anthony Latina was struck in the face with a stick and also didn't return.  Game 2 would go to the Vees, but for the Vipers there's no where to go but up and returning home should help.

The Vipers found themselves trailing early as just 42 seconds into the game, Tyson Jost  converted on a 3 on 2 rush to make it 1-0 Penticton.  Liam Finlay would be run over at the Penticton blueline leading to a 5 on 3 PP for the Vipers, where Finlay would get some form of revenge as he would bank in a centering pass off a Vee defender to tie the game up at 1.  Unfortunately for Finlay  he would be forced to leave the game and not return.  Shortly after that, it appeared Anthony Latina was clipped in the face by an errant stick and also was forced to leave the game and not return.  Losing those two hurt the Vipers, but with lots of time left and in a tie game there was still plenty of time to rally.  The Vees however took over the momentum as they started to control the flow of play.  Just like a night ago a goal would be scored in the final minute, this time it was the Vees taking a 2-1 lead on a goal mouth scramble that saw Cam Amantea slip home his first of the playoffs to end period 1.

Period 2 was primarily controlled by the Vees again and just like period 1, they would score in the first minute to make it 3-1 thanks to another Tyson Jost goal as he powered his way to the net and made a nice move on Schamerhorn.  The Vipers had a chance to get back in it with a powerplay midway through, but a few moments later would find themselves shorthanded 5 on 3.  Just as the game was getting back to even strength, Connor Chartier would tap in a centering pass from Dakota Conroy to make it 4-1.  Less than 2 minutes later it would be 5-1 on a Demico Hannoun marker.

The third period was all about building towards game 3.  The Vees weren't pressing, but I thought the Vipers simplified their game enough and seemed to refocus.  Hunter Miska was very good in the period.  Only Riley Brandt would beat him with a wrist shot from the left circle to finish the game 5-2.

Here is the official box score from the BCHL website:

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Penticton Vees at 0:42 - Tyson Jost from Demico Hannoun and Patrick Newell

1-1 Vernon Vipers at 7:48 (PP) - Liam Finlay from Liam Coughlin and Thomas Aldworth

2-1 Penticton Vees at 19:23 - Cam Amantea from Cody DePourcq and Dante Fabbro

PERIOD 2

3-1 Penticton Vees at 0:57 (PP) - Tyson Jost from Jack Ramsey and Demico Hannoun

4-1 Penticton Vees at 13:50 - Connor Chartier from Lewis Zerter - Gossage and Dakota Conroy

5-1 Penticton Vees at 15:44 - Demico Hannoun from Patrick Newell and Dante Fabbro

PERIOD 3

5-2 Vernon Vipers at 16:47 - Riley Brandt from Ken Citron and Luke Voltin

STARS OF THE GAME
1st STAR	2nd STAR	3rd STAR
Penticton Vees Demico Hannoun	Penticton Vees Tyson Jost	Penticton Vees Cam Amantea

The Vipers will now host their first playoff game in exactly two weeks for games 3 and 4.  The Vipers have been very good at home all year and especially in 2015.  They say a series doesn't truly start until a team has won on the road, and the Vipers would like to make sure that doesn't happen tonight in Game 3.

Here's how you can tune in

Listen with myself and Don Klepp...http://1075kiss.com/
Listen with Fraser Rodgers...http://penticton.myezrock.com/
Watch on Fasthockey...http://www.fasthockey.com

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