SALMON ARM, B.C. DECEMBER 9, 2016
There were three things missing from Friday nights match-up with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. 1) a penalty shot, 2) a shorthanded goal, and 3) a winner. The game had a little bit of everything. Each team led for a bit, trailed for a bit, scored right after the other team and received outstanding goaltending. In the end a last second save by the Salmon Arm goaltender on a breakaway would ensure both teams finish in a 4-4 tie.
The Vipers struck first just a minute in as Steven Jandric scored on a rebound right at the 60 second mark. The Silverbacks rallied for two power-plays as Josh Blanchard and Haydn Hopkins gave the home side a 2-1 lead. Five on five was a good match-up for the Vipers, but some hot goal tending kept the game 2-1 after 1.
Jimmy Lambert tied the game up as the Viper powerplay converted. The tie game lasted for exactly a minute before Ryley Booth snapped home his third of the season to give the Silverbacks the lead right back. The Vipers were destined to tie it up as Austin Adamson deflected home a point shot just fifteen seconds later and it was 3-3. The Vipers caught a break as a Salmon Arm goal was waived off and they were assessed a goaltender interference penalty. Michael Ufberg would break the tie thanks to a seeing eye shot from the center point that got through a maze of bodies to give the Vipers a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.
It took an unlucky bounce and frenzy of Silverbacks to tie the game up early in third as Elijiah Barriga potted home a loose puck to make it 4-4. The Vipers had another late powerplay and again on a lucky break, and Jagger Williamson came a millimeter away from giving the Vipers the win, but he rang iron. Sixty minutes solved nothing and finished 4-4.
In the first OT, the Silverbacks had a powerplay opportunity and thanks to a huge kill the Vipers were able to push it to a second OT.
With just seconds remaining, Jagger Williamson found himself alone on a breakaway, but Nic Tallarico made a great save to keep the score 4-4 as 70 minutes expired.
The Vipers now prepare for an important matchup agains the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday night.
The Vipers have been extremely solid at home with an 8-3-0-1 record. Their most recent home game was a 6-1 victory over West Kelowna and they look to parlay that success to give them sole possession of 2nd place in the Interior Division.
The line of Brett Stapley, Steven Jandric and Jimmy Lambert have caught fire with two of the three registering points in 9 straight games.
The Smoke Eaters come in after a 4-3 OTL vs Cowichan Valley. Trail has a similar winning percentage on the road to the Vipers, but they do hold a win in their only visit to KTP this season.
These two teams stack up extremely even and this will be a matchup you won’t want to miss. You can catch the game on HockeyTV and mixlr.com/vernon-vipers starting at 5:45
