Vipers Game Day – Vipers Look To Take Series Lead in West K

Photo: Lisa Mazurek

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 7:00 pm PDT

Location: Royal LePage Place

Radio: 107.5 Beach Radio

Webcast: Hockey TV 

Vernon Vipers

GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee

2022-23 Playoffs: GP 4, 2-2

Home: 1-1-0-0

Away: 1-1-0-0

GF: 17

GA: 13

Power Play: 5 for 18 – 27.8%

Penalty Kill: 12 of 18 – 66.7%

Top Scorer: Lee Parks (6-1-7)

*If necessary

Last Game: The Vipers offense broke out in a major way as they racked up 7 goals en route to a 7-0 shutout win over West Kelowna.  Seven different Vipers had goals, including Parks who now has goals in all 4 games of the series.  Reagan Milburn, who tied for the team lead in points in the regular season, struck for his first as well.  Ethan David made 28 saves for his first playoff shutout and 7^th career clean sheet.  The Vipers also won the special teams battle going 2 for 4 on the powerplay and killing all 6 West K powerplays.

Tonight: The Vipers to take the lead in the series for the first time as the series switches back to West Kelowna.  The first two games of the series were extremely close with 4-3 and 5-4 scores.  Neither team has been able to win back-to-back games in the series.  Vernon also hopes their PK has found its stride after struggling in the first 3 games, it bounced back in a major way in game 4.

West Kelowna Warriors

GM & Head Coach: Simon Ferguson

2022-23 Playoffs: GP 4, 2-2

Home: 1-1

Away: 1-1

GF: 13

GA: 17

Power Play: 6 for 18 – 33.3%

Penalty Kill: 13 of 18 – 72.2%

Top Scorer: Christopher Duclair (3-4-7) Brennan Nelson (2-5-7)

Last Game: The Warriors got down early and never recovered in Game 4.  The good bounces they got in game 3, went against them in Game 4.  It was the first time all season they’ve been shutout.  Cayden Hamming made 7 saves on 11 shots before being replaced by Angelo Zol for the final 39 minutes.

Tonight: West K typically bounce back after a poor outing and they’ll look to do the same in a pivotal Game 5.  Their best performance of the series came in Game 3 after the loss in Game 2.  The Warriors are 2-0 when leading after 1 and 2 periods, so the it’s imperative for both teams to try establish a lead.  The Warriors starts have been a bit of an issue.  Vernon has opened the scoring in 3 of the first 4 games of the series.