Another chapter of the Vipers and Vees, and another fantastic hockey game that couldn’t find a winner. Michael Ufberg had 2 points and Ty Taylor was spectacular stopping 34 of 36 pushing the Vipers unbeaten streak to 8 games thanks to a 2-2 tie in Penticton.
Good pace to this one right off the hop as both teams found their legs early. The Vipers had a couple of good scoring chances as AP call up Ben King hit a goal post and Josh Prokop and Jesse Lansdell teamed up for a chance that was thwarted by Adam Scheel. The Viper penalty kill looked sharp in the first period killing off all 3 chances and surrendering just 3 shots in those sequences. The Vees had a few chances of their own as they hit a goal post and Ty Taylor made a solid pad save on a Grant Cruikshank shot. The period would end without any scoring with the Vipers leading in shots by a 6-9 margin.
The Vipers had a few good looks at the net on the first two shifts of the period and that paid off in the first goal of the game. Michael Ufbergs shot from the left circle glanced off a body in front and into the net for his 5th of the season. The lead was shortlived however as just 34 seconds later, Grant Cruikshank snapped home his 6th of the season to tie the game up. Play would even out as some good five on five play was on display. The Vees came close to taking a lead as a shot from the left side beat Taylor, but not the crossbar keeping the game even. A failed clearing attempt did in the Vipers late in the period as AP Jack Finley scored his first BCHL goal to give the Vees a 2-1 lead after 2 periods.
Despite being down by a goal, the Vipers continued to play their systems and really did a nice job of containing the Vees and minimizing many opportunities at the Viper goal. The Viper powerplay may not have scored, but it generated some momentum and shortly after the powerplay expired, Michael Ufberg set up Jordan Sandhu for his 8th of the season to make it 2-2. After that, it was all about the goaltenders as Ty Taylor and Adam Scheel went toe to toe to help their team to the extra point including a ten bell save by Taylor late to force overtime.
In the overtime, a Viper powerplay couldn’t convert despite a couple of good chances. Things really opened up 3 on 3 as the action went end to end. A few big saves by Taylor on Cruikshank and Scheel on Karamanis. In the end, 70 minutes couldn’t find a winner as for the second straight game head to head, the Vipers and the Vees would tie 3-3.
The good news is they’ll do it all over again Saturday night at Kal Tire Place. Puck drop at 6 oclock
