Merritt, BC: Connor Marritt scored a hat trick with an even strength, powerplay and shorthanded goal as the Vipers held on for an 8-7 shootout win in Merritt on Sunday afternoon.
The Vipers exploded out of the gate in the first period. The offense from the last two nights clearly wasn’t dried up as Matt Kowalski opened the scoring just 74 seconds into the hockey game on a 2 on 1. Just past the 8 minute mark, Dawson Holt finished off a nice passing play from Matt Kowalski to make it 2-0. The Vipers capitalized on a scramble in front as a loose puck found Connor Marritt at the side of the net, he’d make no mistake making it 3-0. In the final minute, another odd man rush would develop and again it was Matt Kowalski wiring a shot past Ryan Winter making it 4-0 after 1 period.
In the second the Vipers would capitalize on a shorthanded chance as Marritt would pick the pocket of a Centennial in the neutral zone then beat Winter low to the blocker making it 5-0. The Cents would swap goaltenders and that seemed to spark the club. The Vipers though were solid defensively and extended the lead to 6-0 following a Connor Marritt hat trick goal on a re-directed point shot. Merritt would get their Teddy Bear Toss goal in the final minute of the period as Hunor Torzsok deflected in a point shot making it 6-1 after 2.
It was a wild third period. Hunor Torzsok would get his second of the game early in the frame making it 6-2. Hunter Donohoe converted on the powerplay making it 7-2 midway through the period. Then the Cents started to climb back into it. Less than two minutes after the Donohoe goal, Jerzy Orchard made it 7-3. Three minutes after that it was Chase Nameth going post and in to make it 7-4. Less than three minutes later Torzsok scored his hat trick goal to make it 7-5. 39 seconds after that Chase Nameth made it 7-6 with 2 minutes and 17 seconds remaining. The comeback would be complete as Rylan Van Unen scored with 100 seconds left to force the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Vipers had a glorious opportunity to win it with a powerplay, but Tanner Marshall and the Cents PK were solid forcing the game to a shootout.
In the shootout, Rylan Van Unen was stopped by Herbst. Dawson Holt shot next but Marshall made a blocker save. Thomas Manty missed the net on his chance, the Connor Marritt had a puck bobble on him and couldn’t get a good shot at Marshall. Payton Matsui scored on his chance, putting Matt Kowalski in a must score situation. The Vipers leading scorer put it post and in to extend the shootout. Chase Nameth was the 4th shooter for Merritt and again Herbst made a big pad save. Connor Sleeth then had the chance to win it, which he did following a nice deke and shot.
“Its a good lesson for our group, that you can’t win hockey games if you don’t defend,” says Head Coach and GM of the Vipers Jason McKee in the post game show. “If you don’t play the right way you’ll be in trouble.”
McKee says it was a good lesson for the group to learn as they regroup for a big weekend with a home and home visit from the Division leading Penticton Vees.
