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Wenatchee Goes Wild On Vipers

Specialty teams proved to be the difference Friday night as the Vipers fell by a 4-1 score to the Wenatchee Wild. All five of the games goals were scored on special teams, 4 on the PP and 1 shorthanded. The Wild struck 4 times in the middle period to jump ahead and that was all they would need.

It was a very good first period from both teams. No goals, but a lot of free flowing play without many whistles or stoppages. Both Ty Taylor and Garrett Nieto stood tall on the shots they faced and the Vipers killed off a late powerplay to head to the dressing room squared at zeroes.

The last half of the second period left a lot to be desired as the Vipers found themselves in penalty trouble for a five minute segment and the Wild took full advantage. Charlie Combs, Troy Conzo and AJ Vanderbeck had goals with the latter scoring on 5 on 3 powerplays. Combs wasn’t done as he would chime in with a shorthanded goal to give the home side a commanding four goal lead.

The Vipers returned to form in the third period and thanks to a powerplay goal from Steven Jandric were able to end the shut out bid of Nieto. Darion Hanson made his Viper debut in the third period stopping all 14 shots and looking very sharp in doing so. In the end, despite 2 consecutive powerplays late, the final score would finish 4-1 Wenatchee.

The Vipers take on the Coquitlam Express Saturday night at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex for the second and final meeting of the season between the two teams. The Vipers hold a 4-1 victory in the first and only matchup at Kal Tire Place way back in September.
Both teams are coming off losses to mainland division opponents as the Vipers lost 4-1 and the Express were tuned by the Spruce Kings 8-0 at the Rolling Concrete Mix Arena.

It’ll be a battle of road warriors as the Vipers head up the I5 to Coquitlam, while the Express head down the Trans Canada overnight to welcome the Snakes.
You can catch all of Saturday nights action on 107.5 KissFM starting at 6:45 with the pregame show, and the play by play at 7pm with Graham Turnbull.