Panthers are too strong for feisty Vipers
Dec 31 2008 The Journal
A DEPLETED Vipers team put up a good fight but couldn’t contain the Panthers who out-shot them 60-24 last night.
Already missing three influential players, the Vipers problems worsened before the match as Chris McAllister was forced out of the action with a broken bone in his foot.
The defenceman joins player-coach Rob Wilson on the team bench, which meant the Vipers started with only three recognised defencemen, their new signing Likit Andersson, Mark Gouett and Jez Lundin.
Given the circumstances, damage limitation must have been on every Viper mind as they lined up against the team that had beaten them on all four of their previous meetings this season.
The Vipers’ cause wasn’t helped by the fact forward Derek Campbell was ordered off for tripping in the fourth minute but the penalty-killing unit, icing against a potent threat, passed their first two-minute examination.
On 12 minutes the Vipers went on the powerplay themselves but without the holidaying Ed Courtenay, injured captain David Longstaff and Wilson, the team’s play during the man advantages has been poor recently and the first attempt last night was no exception.
Throughout the first period the Vipers were up against it and they did well to last out as long as they did. Unfortunately the Panthers took the lead right at the death of the period, Corey Neilson striking his 10th goal of the season with just one second of play remaining.
The goal came as a result of a fast counter-attack which left netminder Andrew Verner uncharacteristically out of position, giving Neilson a huge target to aim for.
Just picked for the All Star game, Verner had saved 21 shots prior to this and in the second period he was made to work nearly as hard. When the teams left the ice Verner remained statistically unbeaten after facing an 18-shot barrage.
The puck did elude his reach and end up in the back of the net with 19 seconds of the period left to play, but the goal was disallowed by referee Tom Darnell as a Panther player was illegally positioned inside the crease.
The Vipers had killed a second Panthers powerplay during the period and were put to the test for a third time two minutes into the final period when Verner was penalised for tripping up an opponent.
Sixteen seconds after Darnell had raised his arm as he signalled the penalty, the home side made it third time lucky. Bruce Richardson had set up Neilson for the third goal and this time he took the glory himself on 42 minutes after Kevin Bergin Johan Molin had created the opportunity for him at the back post.
Dean Holland had a spat with Dan Tessier on 47 minutes with both players being penalised for roughing.
Eleven seconds after being released from the away penalty box Holland, nicknamed “The Walkergate Warrior”, was back in it as he was adjudged to have illegally charged a Panther.
Holland was sitting out play for a third time on 52 minutes for fighting Richardson, both players receiving five minute penalties after they had been separated.
The feistiness continued then Andrew Payette clashed with Panther Mark Levers with four minutes left, the Viper being given a four-minute spell out of action as opposed to his opponent’s two.
Not long after the Vipers had failed to capitalise on another powerplay, Wilson withdrew Verner for a six-on-five skater gamble to avert a possible shutout. With just over a minute to play when Bergin shot the puck into the unguarded goal.
VIPERS co-owner Paul Ferone last night paid tribute to coach Rob Wilson, who will have a testimonial match in his honour in February. He said: “If any individual deserves recognition for his dedication it’s definitely Rob – over the past years he has sacrificed so much.”
NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS: Bergin and Richardson 1+1, Neilson 1+0, Clarke, Galbraith, Meyers and Molin 0+1.
