Game 11 - Vipers 6 Clippers 2

It appears a little home cooking was all the Vipers needed to get back on track after a tough Island road trip.  Keep in mind it had been about 3 weeks since the last game played on Kal Tire Place ice and that night the Vipers put up 8 goals.  Friday night, the Snakes posted a 6 spot and played what most would call a complete 60 minutes.  They killed penalties, blocked shots, got some spectacular goaltending and the offense started to roll as the Vipers won 6-2.

It had been 5 games since the last time the Vipers opened the scoring and did so in the first period.  It started early as Brett Stapley would tally his first BCHL goal off a nice feed from behind the net.  The period was rather even after that with both teams skating well and moving the puck quickly. Both teams went 0 for 2 on the PP and the score was 1-0 after 1.

On a third PP of the game for the Vipers, Joe Sacco would tip in a Mac Ferner point shot to make it 2-0.   The Vipers were then faced with a lengthy 5 on 3 penalty kill, against the number 1 ranked powerplay in the BCHL.  The powerplay looked good, the PK was better as some blocked shots, good reads and nice saves kept the game 2-0.  Odeen Tufto would be awarded a penalty shot a few moments after the powerplay expired and he would make no mistake on Jonathan Reinhart to make it 3-0.  Just 30 seconds after that Joe Cipollone would convert on a 2 on 1 to make it 4-0 and end the night of goaltender Reinhart.  It seemed like a good time to make the switch, the Clippers needed to get some momentum and it didn't appear to be reflective in the play of the goaltender.  It was 4-0 after 2 periods.

The Clippers came out like gangbusters in the first 2 minutes getting two goals in 30 seconds off the stick of Zach Court and Devin Brosseau.  All of a sudden that comfortable lead was a little less comfortable, but a well placed time out from Mark Ferner allowed the team to compose themselves and regroup.  That seemed to work as they really tightened up their D zone, but also were awarded 3 straight powerplays which really took time off the clock.  The Vipers wouldn't score until late in the third as Jimmy Lambert scored off a nice individual rush and slap shot to make it 5-2.  Griffin James would score on a PP in the last minute to make the final 6-2.

Here is the officials scoring summary:

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Vernon Vipers at 3:37 - Brett Stapley from Joe Cipollone and Michael Roberts

PERIOD 2

2-0 Vernon Vipers at 6:32 (PP) - Joe Sacco from Mac Ferner and Zach Andrusiak

3-0 Vernon Vipers at 10:42 (PS) - Odeen Tufto (unassisted)

4-0 Vernon Vipers at 11:12 - Joe Cipollone from Mac Ferner

PERIOD 3

4-1 Nanaimo Clippers at 0:49 - Zach Court from Corey Renwick

4-2 Nanaimo Clippers at 1:19 - Devin Brosseau from Sheldon Rempal and Matthew Hoover

5-2 Vernon Vipers at 17:24 - Jimmy Lambert (unassisted)

6-2 Vernon Vipers at 19:19 (PP) - Griffin James from Hunter Zandee

STARS OF THE GAME
1st STAR	2nd STAR	3rd STAR
Vernon Vipers Joe Cipollone	Vernon Vipers Mac Ferner	Vernon Vipers Andrew Shortridge

POWER PLAYS
Nanaimo Clippers	0 for 6 (00.0%)
Vernon Vipers	2 for 8 (25.0%)

This was a very consistent game from the Vipers.  They were good in their own zone and managed to keep the Nanaimo top line in check for the most part.  The Vipers were able to get contributions from every line as well as two powerplay markers from unlikely sources.  This team has depth and it was nice to see it shine through.

Again Andrew Shortridge was very good in goal especially early in games.  Unlike a week ago when the first one got by him, he seemed very determined to be the steadying force to allow the team to take the lead.

Next up for the Vipers is a home date against the Prince George Spruce Kings.  6pm Saturday at Kal Tire Place