Photo Credit: Garrett James
The Merritt Centennials waited until the third period to get the game winner for the second time in this four game homestand as they topped the Vipers 4-3 in regulation time.
The Cents and Vipers started off slow in the first. Shots from distance were the order of the early goings, but both teams would cash in on bank shots off the end boards. Matt Kopperud opened the scoring 7:51 into the game on the powerplay, after a shot from Jaydon Fetter went wide, between the legs of Porter off the back boards, and onto the stick off Kopper to the side of the net. The Vipers would answer just under a minute later on a similar play. A shot wide bounced off Vincent Duplessis, and then out to the slot to Sebastien Streu who tied it at ones. That would be the score after 20. Shots were 13-7 after 1. Aiden Porter got the start for the VIpers.
In the second period, the Cents would regain the lead at the 12:30 mark, and once again it would come thanks to the powerplay. This time it was a Mathieu Gosselin shot from the top of the right circle that Porter would stop, only to have deflect off a hard-charging Christian Sabin and into the net. The 2-1 lead would last until late in the 2nd, when the Vipers answered just after a penalty against the Centennials had expired. Shots after two were 33-20.
The final frame saw the Centennials get out to an early lead, Nick Wicks converted on a loose puck to the side of the net to make it 3-2 just 4:46 into the period. Once again, the Vipers didn’t take long to answer as Teddy Wooding converted after Mike Van Unen coughed up the puck at centre ice. The Centennials would score their 3rd goal on the powerplay for the eventual game-winner. Brad Cocca buzzed behind the net and found Nick Granowicz out front for a quick bang-bang play to make it 4-3 with 6:31 remaining in the third. The Cents would hang on to win, with Duplessis stopping 43/46 shots in the winning effort. Aiden Porter stopped 23/27 for the Vipers in the loss.
After the game, Head Coach Joe Martin said that the biggest plus was the special teams performance.
“I think we’ve been waiting for a game like that. Where we shut down a team on the penalty kill and are really able to make them pay with the extra man.”
With the win the Cents move back into sole possession of first place in the Interior Division, but the West Kelowna Warriors play the Surrey Eagles tomorrow night.
Energy Player of the Game:
Payton Matsui
3rd Star – Teddy Wooding 1G, 1A
2nd Star – Matt Kopperud 1G, 1A
1st Star – Vincent Duplessis 43 saves on 46 shots
Next up: West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday Afternoon – 2pm puck drop.
