Viper Vault

_{The Vipers congratulate Kirby Halcrow. Photo: Don Klepp}

Vernoncentral.ca Star of the Game Video.

Michael Zalewski’s pair of third period tallies led the host Vernon Vipers to a 5-2 victory over an understaffed Alberni Valley squad on Saturday.

True to their name, the Bulldogs added some bite to their bark as they outworked the Vipers in the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the second period. Playing with just 12 skaters, they were the aggressors right from the opening faceoff, which paid off in an early power play.

Defenceman Walker Hyland ripped a point shot through traffic at 1:51, just 10 seconds after Colton Sparrow was assessed an interference penalty.

The Bulldogs continued to take the play to the Vipers, limiting the home team to three shots in the first period. That trend was reversed after the break as the Vipers awoke from their moribund state to take a 2-1 lead.

At the edge of Max Fenkell’s crease, Ben Gamache converted Patrick McGillis’s crisp feed at 1:35 to get the Vipers on the board. And at 17:49, Adam Tambellini one-timed Mike Zalewski’s cross-ice pass to beat Fenkell on the power play.  

Continuing the pattern of early goals, Alberni Valley tied the game on another power play marker at 1:12 of the third period. Hunter Stewart deflected Marlon Sabo’s point shot past Kirby Halcrow.

_{Ben Gamache converted Patrick McGillis’s crisp feed at 1:35 to get the Vipers on the board. Photo: Roger Tepper, Edge Photography}Then Mike Zalewski went to work. Adam Tambellini pressured a Bulldog into a cross ice pass at the Bulldog blue line. John Knisley picked it off and found Zalewski in front of Fenkell, where Zalewski stick handled to freeze the diminutive goaltender before roofing the puck at 6:48.

Two minutes later, Zalewski displayed another slick move to make the score 4-2. Set up by a cross-ice pass from Colton Cyr, Zalewski faked Fenkell to the ice and deftly swerved to deposit the puck in the open cage.

Aaron Hadley added an empty net goal after being unselfishly set up by his cousin, Adam Tambellini.

Viper GM and Coach, Jason Williamson, admitted that “it wasn’t our best effort tonight. Give the Bulldogs credit; they outworked us for about half the game. But I think we’ve turned the corner. We’re now finding ways to win games when we don’t play a full 60 minutes.”

The win brought the Vipers to within two points of the fourth place Chilliwack Chiefs, who lost 5-3 in Trail. It sets up a showdown in Chilliwack next Saturday.   

In the meantime, Trail visits the Wesbild Centre on Tuesday and Merritt will be back in town on Friday.