Victory may be gigantic

Mar 17 2008 The Journal

THE Vipers quickly recovered from their home defeat against the Coventry Blaze to land a psychological blow against the team they will soon face in the play-offs.

Last night’s win was secured in the second period when the Vipers established a 4-1 lead and the Giants seemed to accept the outcome by switching their netminders – seeing GB international Stevie Lyle being replaced by Adam Cree for the final period.

The game was one-and-a-half minutes old when Peter Campbell’s snapshot struck Ryan MacDonald on his left arm before passing over his shoulder and into the net.

But two goals in the 11th minute changed the complexion of the game. The Vipers were operating a powerplay when defenceman Ben Storey’s shot was redirected twice on its path into the back of the net – Jeff Hutchins making sure it went in at the far post.

And on the next assault the Vipers went ahead, Derek Campbell cleverly scoring from the side of the goal to beat Lyle at his near post.

As the teams left the ice for the first break, Vipers player-coach Rob Wilson lost his cool and received a game misconduct penalty for abusing referee Andy Carson.

Lyle was beaten for the third time five minutes after play had restarted when Campbell netted and it became 4-1 on 32 thanks to Storey.

Against the newly-crowned league champions on Saturday, the Vipers found themselves 2-0 ahead after five minutes thanks to David Longstaff and Wilson – who marked his second appearance of the season with a successful long-range shot.

The Vipers grip was broken with two goals in the 17th minute, Curtis Huppe powerfully making it 2-1 on a powerplay and Adam Calder made sure the home side paid for turning the puck over in the neutral zone.

A second Huppe marker made it 3-2 to the visitors but the fourth goal in three minutes and four seconds play restored parity as Todd Jackson netted.

Former Vipers captain Jonathan Weaver put his new team ahead early in the second period but the Vipers hit back through Jackson and Derek Campbell to lead at the second break.

Two goals in under a minute, however, tilted the balance in favour of Blaze. Huppe netted his hat-trick marker and on 45 minutes Tom Watkins scored what proved to be the decisive goal.

MATCH FACTS

VIPERS: Jackson 2+0, Longstaff 1+2, Wilson 1+1, Hutchins 0+3, Johnson, Lundin & Storey 0+1.

BLAZE: Huppe 3+0, Calder & Weaver 1+2, Watkins 1+0, Carlson 0+4, Moore 0+2, Cloutier & Soderstrom 0+1.

VIPERS: D Campbell 2+1, Storey 1+1, Hutchins 1+0, Jackson 0+2, Shields 0+1.

GIANTS: P Campbell and Sutter 1+0, Christie, Courtenay, Jamieson and Lewis 0+1.