Dogs 1 Vipers 1

70 minutes of hockey couldn't find a winner in this one but the fans still got their moneys worth with a wildly entertaining finish after what was a tough first 40 minutes to watch as the Dogs spent almost half of it killing penalties. Even though half their team has moved on the Vipers looked everything like the two time defending RBC Cup Champions, and a team that was unbeaten in 9 games in regulation.


Vernon took a 1-0 lead just over 8 minutes into the second as Frank Slubowski raced out to a loose puck to make the first save but Darren Nowick skated onto it and beat Ryan Renz who attempted to stack the shin pads to keep it out. They were looking for more on one of those aforementioned penalties late in the period when Tanner Hicks turned the game and got the building into it with two huge shot blocks and an even bigger hit at centre ice. In the ensuing scrum in the late moments of the period David Robinson would pick up two minutes for unsportsmanlike. The penalty was a big one as the Dogs connected on the powerplay on an innocent looking broken play as Casey Bailey just plain put a puck on net that found its way through the legs of Halcrow for a 1-1 tie a minute into the third.


Neither team would find the net the rest of the way through the third period or 10 minutes of OT as the game ended in a rare tie - though each team has 3 now this season so I guess they aren't THAT rare.


The Dogs had the best chances early in OT to win it as Malcolm Lyles was sent off for high sticking as he drew blood on Casey Bailey. Referee Steven Bratt would shake his head no on the play and gesticulated a stick lift motion and play carried on. When play stopped the officials converged and as linesman can only call double minor or major penalties the Dogs went to a four minute powerplay.


While the Dogs moved the puck masterfully the Vipes killed the penalty just as well by blocking shots and taking away passing lanes. The Vipers had their best chances to win it in double ot as they controlled the puck on one shift for an extended period and had several good chances that were thwarted by Frank Slubowski. The best of which was on Adam Thompson as he one-timed a backdoor feed walking down from the line but Slubowski was lightning quick in getting over.


Slubowski was full value for his 1st star honours and made 2 similar sparkling saves on John Knisley earlier in the game. Kirby Halcrow was solid at the other end, but wasn't tested nearly as much as the Vipers out shot the Dogs 42-27.


The Dogs went 1 for 5 on the powerplay while the Vipers went 0 for 8.



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