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Vipers End In 3-All Deadlock

The Vernon Vipers used a “better late, than never” approach to their matchup with the Merritt Centennials Friday night as they scored 3 goals in the final 11 minutes of the third period to force overtime in a game that would eventually end in a 3-3 draw.  The Vipers found themselves in a hole, with the clock as their enemy, scored two even strength goals and a powerplay marker to even it up.

The first period was a solid period of hockey for both clubs, but the edge in terms of time of possession went to the Vipers.  They put 15 shots at the Merritt goal, while surrendering just 7.  Both goalies were perfect as the first period ended scoreless.

The Centennials opened the scoring just a couple of minutes into the middle frame as a point shot from Tyrell Buckley found its way through traffic and past the glove of Ty Taylor.  The Cents increased their lead on a powerplay as Cade Gleekel fished a puck out of a scrum in the slot to snipe home his 9th of the season and the Vipers found themselves in a 2 goal deficit after 40 minutes.

In the third, things seemed to go from bad to worse as after a nice five minute stretch to start the period, the Vipers saw the deficit get a little larger as Stephan Seeger pinballed a centering pass off a skate or stick and right into the top shelf and it was 3-0 Merritt.  The Vipers needed a little puck luck and that’s exactly what they received as Niko Karamanis was credited with his 12th after falling to the ice and having a rebound go in off his lower half.  Without a distinct kicking motion the play was a called a goal and it was 3-1.  A shoot in and some hard work earned the Vipers their second goal as Austin Adamson snapped home his 6th of the season and all of a sudden the Vipers were within 1 goal with 6 minutes to play.  The comeback would be completed on a powerplay just 65 seconds after the Adamson goal as Michael Ufbergs slap shot from the center point would get under the arm of Jake Berger to make it 3-3.

Both overtimes were thrillers with both teams have plenty of opportunities to end the game.  Ty Taylor made 3 breakaway saves and Jake Berger and the Centennial PK killed off 75 seconds of 4 on 3 time.  In the end 10 minutes of OT couldn’t solve this one as both teams earned their second ties of the season.

The Vipers now embark on their final leg of a road trip before the Christmas Break.  Their opponent, the Trail Smoke Eaters.

The Vipers played the Smokies a week ago at Kal Tire Place and effectively dominated them.  The final ended up being 6-2 as the Snakes used home ice advantage to rattle the flu ridden Smoke Eaters.

This is the second visit to the Cominco Arena for the Vipers.  They won their first foray into the Kootenays with a 2-1 win thanks to a defensive masterpiece that saw them allow only 24 shots against.  The Snakes will need a duplicate effort in order to have similar results.

The Smoke Eaters after the disappointing effort in Vernon came out Wednesday with a much better effort in Penticton and took the Vees the distance and a little farther in a 4-3 OTL at the SOEC.  Trail is currently 3rd place in the BCHL Interior Division and will look to use a little home cooking of their own to reel in the Vipers.

You can catch all the action on 107.5 KissFM starting at 6:45 with the pregame show or watch on HockeyTV.