History-making Vipers skate to top of the table

Oct 31 2007 The Journal

Moblix Vipers 3, Hull Stingrays 2

BRITISH defenceman Jez Lundin’s final period strike shot the Vipers into joint top position with Coventry Blaze in the Elite League table.

It is the first time the Vipers have ever been at the summit and delighted coach Rob Wilson hailed it as “a great achievement for probably a bottom three spending team.”

After the second restart, Lundin followed up his own shot to capitalise on the rebound off Stingrays keeper Ladislav Kudrna’s pads, the youngster hustling the puck over the line despite the close attentions of the netminder and a defenceman.

It was only Lundin’s second goal of the season and it sealed a hard fought victory for the Vipers.

The Vipers began without defence Pavel Gomenyuk, who has a groin problem.

In place of Gomenyuk, Richie Thornton played alongside Petr Kratky and the British blue-liner was one of two offending players as the Vipers ran into early penalty trouble.

Soon after the penalties had been killed the Vipers went ahead and it was Thornton who made the scoring touch on 11 minutes.

Skilful forward Derek Campbell did well to retain possession under pressure by the right boards and then send a cross-ice pass to Thornton who hit the puck first-time high into the roof of the net. It was a spectacular way to open his account.

Two minutes later the Stingrays hit back, again on the powerplay. Netminder Ryan MacDonald got behind Bryce Toma’s shot, but the rebound was put into the net by Jeff Glowa, a wicked deflection aiding the forward.

Paul Cabana missed one of two good chances to fall to the Stingrays early in the second period but he was the first to the puck when MacDonald half-saved Jake Riddle’s goal attempt, the Stingrays goal on the 21 minutes being a powerplay success.

Less than six minutes later, the Vipers drew level and again Thornton made a contribution.

Quick passing between Thornton and Colin Shields set up Todd Jackson and the Vipers’ No 13 sent the puck over Kudrna for his third goal and 13th point of the season in as many games.

Just under a minute later the Vipers had a let-off. Following loose defensive play Glowa advanced on goal and unleashed a shot which beat MacDonald but, fortunately for the keeper, impacted on his right-hand post.

MacDonald had earlier earned his luck and the shot-stopper kept the Vipers ahead in the game as the Stingrays applied some heavy pressure before and after their fifth powerplay midway through the final period.

In all, the impressive MacDonald made 25 saves.

MOBILX NEWCASTLE VIPERS: Richie Thornton 1+1, Jackson and Lundin 1+0, Shields 0+2, Campbell, Longstaff and Payette 0+1.

HULL STINGRAYS: Cabana and Glowa 1+1, Phillips, Rankin, Riddle and Toma 0+1.