special teams key westside victory

by don klepp | Added 2009-02-20 | Back

Michael Quinn's second highlight-reel goal of the game, a short-handed effort, keyed a Westside 4-3 over the Vipers in Westside on Friday.

The teams entered the third period tied, 3-3. The majority of that period saw tight checking and few scoring chances, even on the power play. Westside's penalty killers made a difference in the contest as they held the Vipers scoreless in 7 power play chances, including a 35 second 5 on 3, midway through the third. The Vipers controlled play throughout their two-man advantage, but couldn't get the final touch on pucks bouncing around goaltender Kevin Jebson.

Then at 16.32 the Vipers got one more chance when Westside's Cam Reid was called for holding. This time, the Warriors stymied the Vipers' attempts to set up in the Warrior zone. Near the end of the man advantage, Michael Quinn intercepted an errant Viper pass, held off a Viper defender and cut across Graeme Gordon's crease before slipping the puck under the sprawling Viper goalie.

Quinn's goal matched another fine effort that had occurred at the beginning of the second period. He picked up a short pass from Garrett Watson just outside the VIper line, eluded Cam Brodie's poke check, and fired a howitzer off Gordon's right arm and into the top corner.

That goal reversed Viper momentum that had resulted from their 2-1 first period lead. After spotting the Warriors an early Trevor Bailey power play strike, the Vipers stormed back with two even strength goals courtesy of the Jones line, starting at 7.49. Connor Jones headmanned the puck to brother Kellen, whose drop pass just over the Westside blue line allowed Adam Thompson to rip a slap shot while in full stride. The puck hit Jebson high on the shoulder and dropped over the goal line.

Before the second Viper goal, the Warriors thought they had cleared the zone and started to head up ice. However, Kellen Jones made a great diving lunge to hook the puck to Connor. Sahir Gill took Connor's quick pass and roofed the puck past Jebson at 15.46.

The first period featured intense, often frantic action and plenty of hitting. In one of their most physical periods of the season, the Vipers dished out 15 hits, compared to 6 by Westside. Each team had 5 good scoring chances in the period.

The second period had less hitting, but remained very competitive. Partly due to two power plays, the Vipers outshot the Warriors, 18 to 11, but were outscored 2-1. In addition to the early Quinn goal, Alex Grieve scored unassisted at 15.29 on a rather strange play. It appeared that a Warrior clearing attempt would go for icing, and the Viper defenders relaxed. However, the puck slowed right down after ploughing through a pile of snow at the Warrior bench. Seeing an opportunity, Grieve snapped up the puck in the Viper zone, stepped around two Vipers, and tucked the disk behind Gordon.

Sandwiched between the two Westside goals, Sahir Gill had made it 3-2 for the Vipers at 14.19. His change-of-pace backhand fooled Jebson from in close. The Jones twins, whose hard work deep in the zone set up Gill, each picked up his third assist of the game.

The second period might have seen more goals, but the puck bounces favoured the goaltenders. For example, a rocket off the stick of Cory Kane at about the 9 minute mark richocheted off a crouching Kevin Jebson's mask and missed the top corner by an inch or two. Also, Westside's star defenceman, Justin Schultz made two end-to-end rushes that finished with shots deflecting just off the target.

This game was there for the Vipers to win. They played hard; they outhit the Warriors; they had 35 shots to the Warriors' 31; they had plenty of power play chances. But three of the four Westside goals came on uncharacteristic Viper defensive lapses, in the midst of otherwise good Viper play. The only time Westside dominated was during four of their six power plays.

GAME NOTES:
Vernon won 5 of the 8 games in the season series between the teams, but Westside has won the last two.

Despite the loss, the Vipers clinched first place in the Interior Division and home-ice advantage in the Interior Division playoffs, because Penticton swamped Salmon Arm, 6-0. The Warriors are tied with Penticton in third place, each with one game to play.

The Vipers trail Victoria by two points in the overall BCHL points standings, but the Vipers can still finish first overall if they garner four points in their remaining two games.

Adam Thompson's goal was his first in the last 31 games, after starting the season with 6 goals in his first 26 games.

Connor Jones's three assists give him 58 points and the team lead, four points ahead of Braden Pimm. Kellen has now slipped into third in team scoring, with 50 points.