I knew JD, Carmine and the boys would be happy to see how he did in first game/last night after hooking on with Lowell. Reports were that he was though exausted as he fell down 35+ times, per period
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Vernon 2 Nanaimo 1 (Overtime)
I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Nanaimo 2-1 in overtime in front of 1,437 fans at the Wesbild Centre
Four on four Malcom Lyles did all the work going in and around three Clipper players before dishing off to David Robinson in front who tipped Lyles shot just wide of the goal on a great scoring play. Vernon just wasnt getting the bounces tonight
Overtime: The Vipers were heading into their third straight overtime game after knocking off Prince George and Trail, both in overtime over the weekend. Not much action in the opening few minutes before Vernon would get a three on one but back come the Clippers who charged back into the play breaking up the odd man rush as the Vipers were unable to record a shot. Malcolm Lyles big shot from the point was stopped by Charles-Andre Pelletier who had to look behind him to make sure he had the puck. Marcus Basara then cut wide and went hard towards the goal but was stopped by Charles-Andre Pelletier who was very solid all night. When it looked like we were heading to double overtime Kyle Murphy and Malcolm Lyles with some nice passing allowed Lyles to skate in over the Nanaimo blueline, make a quick move and then rip his low shot fivehole past Charles-Andre Pelletier at 4:59 giving the Vipers their third straight victory as Vernon's bench jumped onto the ice. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 4-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Malmolm Lyles (Overtime winner) Was Vernon's best player this evening. For the second straight home game, Lyles has been the Vipers best player. Earlier today Lyles committed to play for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Riverhawks next season carried the play alot tonight, made some nice heads up plays, jumped up into the play, acting like a forward and played well defensively all at the sametime. Lyles was very good one on one and was very hard to knock off the puck tonight. Had a few good scoring chances.
Malcolm Lyles scored with 1.1 seconds remaining in the first overtime period to defeat the Nanaimo Clippers 2-1 on Wednesday.
For the third straight game, the Vipers won in overtime, a trend that concerns Vipers’ head man, Mark Ferner: “We have to bear down as hard in the first period as we do when the game’s on the line. You never know which play is going to make the difference in the game.”
His words nearly proved prophetic after the Vipers were unable to convert several good scoring chances in the first two periods.
On the power play midway through the first period, Kyle Murphy’s sharp angle shot glanced off both posts and out. A few seconds later, he had the same shot from just outside Charles-Andre Pelletier’s crease. This time, Pelletier slid across to rob the Viper centre.
The Clippers had started the game well, registering the game’s first five shots before a Gerry Fitzgerald penalty at 7:13 helped the Vipers turn the tide. However, Pelletier played well throughout the period and the game was scoreless going into the first intermission.
Again, the Clippers started the second period with a strong forecheck, a strategy that resulted in a Mike Domsodi goal at 6:34. Netminder Blake Voth stopped shots by Brodie Jamieson and Victor Newell, but Domsodi collected a juicy rebound and deposited a backhand past Voth.
Nanaimo had chances to increase the lead, with four power plays in the second and third periods, but the Vipers allowed only one scoring chance while down a man. They also came close to scoring shorthanded, but Patrick McGillis missed the top of the net by a couple of inches.
The Vipers showed more urgency in the third period, but were unable to break the goose egg until David Robinson scored with 4:47 remaining in regulation.
Bryce Kakoske made the play, finding a rebound deep in his team’s zone and carrying the puck all the way to the high slot in front of Pelletier. Kakoske’s low shot came off Pelletier, but first Kyle Murphy and then David Robinson made contact and the game was tied.
In the overtime, the Vipers generated four of the five scoring chances, including Lyles’s winner.
In his words, “Kyle won a tough faceoff back to me by our net and I skated it up ice and gave it to Pat McGillis. He got it across their line to the faceoff dot. Somehow he slipped it to me through the defenceman’s skates. I just shot it low and it went in on the far side.”
Lyles, who had a strong two-way game for the Vipers is having a good week. On Tuesday, he committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell for next year. Coach Ferner believes that “Malcolm has become one of the premier defencemen in this league because of his athleticism and his growing knowledge of his position. But I believe that we haven’t yet seen the best of Malcolm Lyles; he’s getting better all the time.”