The host Vernon Vipers took one more shot (38-37) than the Merritt Centennials in the opening game of their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series.
Unfortunately, that one shot made all the difference in a dramatic 3-2 Vipers’ win in overtime in front of just over 1,200 fans at Kal Tire Place Tuesday night.
Vernon’s always-dangerous Liam Finlay took advantage of a defensive misplay behind the Centennials’ net to steal the puck and make a perfect centering pass to teammate Anthony Latina in the slot.
The 20-year-old Toronto native and Vipers’ leading scorer made no mistake, firing a one-timer high, glove-side past Merritt netminder Jonah Imoo for the game-winner at 3:28 of the first overtime period.
Latina’s second point of the night ended a cat-and-mouse, chess-match of a game that saw both teams play both conservatively and tentatively for long stretches of each period.
“It was a tight game, that’s for sure,” Cents assistant coach Joe Martin said. “There were only a few grade-A scoring opportunities for either team.”
After neither side seemed prepared to establish their will in the early going, Vernon’s big body, Colton McCarthy, opened the scoring on the power play, tipping home a point shot from Latina in front of a screened Imoo in the Cents’ net.
Merritt’s veteran goalie briefly argued his case for crease interference, but to no avail.
The Centennials wasted little time in responding, however, as just 14 seconds later, forward John Schiavo rifled home a beautiful centering pass from linemate Diego Cuglietta to make it a tie game. Josh Teves picked up the second assist.
Merritt and Vernon combined for 28 shots in the first period alone, but both goalies — Imoo and the Vipers’ Danny Todosychuk — were in top form.
“We had a lot of perimeter shots on entries, and maybe they did, too,” Martin said. “That can really increase the shot count. Scoring chances are what matter.”
Vernon notched the only goal of the second period at the 15:55 mark, as Thomas Aldworth banged home the puck during one of many multi-player scrambles that took place in front of both nets all night long.
At the other end of the ice, the Cents were denied a goal when it was deemed the net had come off before the puck crossed the goal line.
It looked like special teams were going to be the Centennials’ undoing Tuesday night as they squandered multiple man-advantage opportunities in the final 40 minutes, including one stretch of five-on-three early in the third period.
“I give credit to their penalty kill,” Martin said. “That and indecision on our part. The players that are out there can be a little more hungry. I thought that we were too perimeter and too predictable.”
Finally, with just 1:58 remaining in regulation, with the Vipers’ Johnny Coughlin in the sin bin, and with Jarrod Schamerhorn replacing an injured Todosychuk in the Vernon net, Merritt’s ever-opportunistic Gavin Gould pounced on a loose puck and buried it to tie things once more.
As the crowd settled in for possibly a long session of overtime, it took one glaring mistake to bring things to a close and give Vernon the 1-0 lead in the series going into Wednesday’s game two at Kal Tire Place.
Martin said that he would be looking for his team to play a little more aggressive in the offensive zone Wednesday and create a few more opportunities.
“If teams are going to play passive, there’s a chance to put them on their heels,” Martin said in reference to Vernon’s perceived game plan. “There’s room in this series to not just play the mistake game but take over control and initiate.”
Games three and four of the Merritt-Vernon series take place at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on Friday and Saturday nights. The puck drop on Friday and Saturday is at 7:30 p.m.
