After the Buzzer – Vipers Threaten Late, Can’t Draw Even, Fall 2-1

Penticton, BC:  Colin Reay made 39 saves on 41 shots and Luke Bibby scored his 7th of the season, but that it was one goal too few as the Vipers fell 2-1 at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday night.

“I thought tonight’s game was a good representation of what this league is like at this time of year,”  says Assistant Coach of the Vipers Colton Sparrow.  “It was a very tight checking, hard and physical game.  I liked our game, aside from some moments in the second period.  Colin was great in net.  We just needed a couple more to go in for us.  Give the Vees credit, it was a hard fought win.”

Luke Bibby scored early in the third period to cut the deficit to 2-1.  The Vipers had plenty of chances after that but couldn’t solve Andrew Ness.  Vernon threw everything at the net in the dying seconds, but Facchinelli was robbed by the glove hand.  Lukas McCloskey and Isaac Fecteau assisted on the Bibby marker.

Reay was the big story of the night for the Vipers.  His busiest was the second period where he stopped 18 of 19.  His best of the night came on a side to side lunge to make a left pad save, then a glove save on the rebound.

Zack Stringer scored his 5th goal of the season, 3rd against the Vipers, in the first period on a rebound.  Connor MacPherson deflected home a point shot from Larry Keenan early in the second, which stood up as the game winner.

Andrew Ness was stingy in goal finishing with 24 saves on 25 shots.

Vernon was 0 for 1 on the powerplay and killed off 1 of 2 Penticton man advantages.

The Vipers return home for a date with the Coquitlam Express on Saturday night at 6pm.

Photo Credit – Cherie Morgan