If the Vipers didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck as AP goalie Derek Krall turned away 46 of 47 Viper shots to propel the Powell River Kings to a 2-1 win.
The game started with great pace as two good teams went toe to toe. The Kings had two really good chances in the first period, as Kyle Kawamura was robbed twice by Ty Taylor. The Vipers killed off one Powell River powerplay and the Kings did the same to the Viper man advantage. The only goal of the period came from Ben Berard as he walked out from the corner and lifted a backhand over the glove of Taylor to make it 1-0. The Vipers had a handful of chances late in the period, but couldn’t find the back of the net and faced a 1-0 deficit after 1 period.
The second period was all Vipers, but you wouldn’t know it looking at the scoresheet. The Vipers outshoot the Kings 25-7 in the middle period, but couldn’t find a hole in Derek Krall. Jimmy Lambert was robbed twice on partial breakaways. Cameron Trott and Niko Karamanis hit goal posts, as the Vipers peppered the goal. The Kings scored against the flow of momentum as a shot from the point by Ben Berard found its way in and the Vipers trailed 2-0 after 2 periods.
The onslaught continued as the Vipers desperately scratched and clawed to get back in the game. They’d finally get one as Jimmy Lambert tipped in a Mitch Andres point shot to make it 2-1 at the 8 minute mark. The Vipers thought they’d tied it off the stick of Niko Karamanis, but Derek Krall as he had all night, made a huge glove save. Late in the game, the Vipers would be called for a penalty in the final two minutes and the clock would expire with the Vipers behind by a 2-1 score.
The Vipers will continue on the road as they head to the Island Savings Centre to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals at 7pm.
