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Vernon Shuts Out Salmon Arm

SALMON ARM, B.C.  DECEMBER 30th, 2016

Goaltending and the penalty kill highlighted what was to be a low scoring affair between the Vernon Vipers and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.  An early goal from Jimmy Lambert proved to be the only scoring as Ty Taylor and Trevin Kozlowski dueled.  In the end, a late penalty shot save by Taylor in the dying seconds would preserve the 1-0 win and give the Vipers their third straight victory.

The Silverbacks had a good couple of shifts to start the game, but the Vipers were able to respond at 2:09 as Jimmy Lambert pounced on a loose puck in the slot and shovelled it over a sprawled Kozlowski.  It was a battle of special teams after that and the Vipers would receive 5 powerplays in the first period alone.  The Salmon Arm penalty kill was very strong and thwarted any opportunity and the period would close 1-0 for the Snakes.

The roles were reversed in the second period as it was the Silverbacks turn to try their hand on the powerplay.  The Backs would get 5 chances with the man advantage in the frame including a lengthy 5 on 3 powerplay.  During those chances the Silverbacks came so close to tying the game on a few different occasions as Ty Taylor was forced to sprawl as a puck straddled the goal line.  A few moments later the Backs thought they had scored as a shot with traffic in front nearly crossed the line.  The goal light went on, but the referee waved it off.  The Viper penalty kill would then go on to kill off 3 consecutive minutes of 5 on 3 to keep the one goal lead after 2.

Both teams were gifted opportunities to put the game away as the parade to the penalty box continued.  Kozlowski and Taylor continued to shine making save after save to keep their teams with the chance to win the game.  As it was in the first two periods, the powerplays struggled to put the puck in the net and that set the scene for a wild finish.  With Kozlowski on the bench for the extra attacker a mad scramble ensued in front of the Viper goal.  A penalty shot was awarded when the official deemed a Viper player pushed the net off intentionally.  The penalty shot was taken by Elijiah Barriga with just 9 seconds left on the clock and Ty Taylor made his best of his 29 saves when it mattered the most.  As the final horn sounded the Vipers would cap a solid weekend with a 1-0 win and a weekend sweep of the Backs to finish 2016 on a high note.

The Vipers will kick off the new year with a big divisional matchup in Penticton on January 7th.  You can hear all the action on 107.5 KissFM starting at 5:45.

Happy New Year Viper Fans!!!