Newcastle Vipers 3, Belfast Giants 4

Dec 24 2007 by Peter Adams, The Journal

A POWERPLAY goal 22 seconds into overtime sent a weakened Vipers team to their second defeat of the weekend following on from Saturday night’s 4-2 away loss against Nottingham Panthers.

Going into the extra period the Vipers found themselves two players short after referee Paul Staniforth, making a rare appearance in Newcastle, harshly penalised Shaun Johnson and Ben Storey.

During the second period the Vipers had failed to defend a five-on-three penalty and they failed again. The Giants passing was quick and precise and it resulted in Peter Campbell having enough time and space to pick his spot beside netminder Ryan MacDonald’s right-hand post for the winning score.

The Vipers made light of being three import forwards short during the first period at the end of which they led 2-0. Winger Derek Campbell is often worth the price of admission alone and he cut inside from the right before successfully firing low into the crowd of players around the crease.

This 15th-minute strike was added to 10 seconds before the break. Captain David Longstaff may or may not have been attempting to score at the far post but it was immaterial as the flight of the puck was redirected in centre ice by Johnson.

From the start of the second period, the Vipers backed off the Giants, allowing them to play. The Vipers crumpled midway through the period conceding three goals in under two minutes.

The Giants player-coach and leading points-scorer Ed Courtenay was the inspiration behind the stunning comeback.

Courtenay shot through MacDonald’s legs to make it 2-1 on 29 minutes. He then played a part in Mark Dutiaume’s equaliser 41 seconds later before letting loose a diagonal shot which flew across MacDonald to give his team a 3-2 lead and make the Vipers pay for having two players in the penalty box.

Three minutes into the final period the home side drew level when Andre Payette found Sergiy Rublivsky at the centre of the crease, the Vipers number 33 shooting home a goal which would ultimately earn the Vipers a point from their league encounter.

On Saturday, two goals inside nine minutes scored by James Ferrara and Johan Molin, set the Vipers on course for their fourth successive defeat against the Panthers. A minute into the final period the Vipers conceded again with Kevin Bergin shooting successfully.

The Vipers then managed to do what they had failed to do in the last game involving the two teams and score past goalie Tom Askey, the 44th minute goal being struck by defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk.

Patrik Wallenberg made it 4-1 not long afterwards before the Vipers cut the deficit with a late powerplay marker from Derek Campbell.

NEWCASTLE VIPERS: Campbell and Riblivsky 1+1, Johnson 1+1, Payette 0+2, Gouett and Longstaff 0+1.

BELFAST GIANTS: Courtenay 2+1, Dutiaume 1+2, Campbell 1+1, Johnson 0+3.

SATURDAY

NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS: Bergin 1+1, Ferrara, Molin and Wallenberg 1+0, McAslan 0+3, Meyers and Pelletier 0+1.

MOBILX NEWCASTLE VIPERS: Campbell and Gomenyuk 1+0, Longstaff and Payette 0+1.