Vernon, B.C. OCTOBER 28, 2016
Bad bounces, a parade to the penalty box and not enough time to score the equalizer, sums up the Vernon Vipers loss to the Penticton Vees on home ice.
The Vees wouldn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard in the opening period, just 1:12 into the start of the game and Taylor Ward beat Vipers netminder Ty Taylor with a hard shot that squeaked past the young goalie. Ward would score his second of the game with less than 30 seconds left in the period to make it 2-0.
Past the midway point of the second period, the Vees would make it 3-nothing on a goal from Grant Cruickshank putting the Vipers in a serious hole. However the Snakes would bounce back with two quick goals at 17:20 and 17:30. Carter Stephenson would rifle one past Mathew Robson on the power play and then 10 seconds later Jimmy Lambert used some sweet moves to deke in and cut the Vees lead to 3-2.
Penticton did a great job shutting down the Vipers in the third and would ultimately add one more goal, an empty netter scored by Cruickshank with his second of the game. Shots were even at 31 apiece however the Vees had 5 power play opportunities compared to the Vipers one.
Assistant Coach Kevin Kraus says the team got into penalty problems that put them down…
Meanwhile Jimmy Lambert and Hunter Zandee also agreed that some undisciplined play cost them a chance to win…
The Vernon Vipers host the Merritt Centennials tonight at 6pm at Kal Tire Place.
