Vipers put an end to their losing streak

Mar 16 2009 The Journal

TWO final-period goals spaced 18 seconds apart finished off the Phoenix and made sure the Vipers’ three-game losing streak came to a close.

Beaten 3-1 by Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night, Rob Wilson’s team took an early lead when Derek Campbell scored his 21st goal of the season on two minutes.

The Phoenix quickly responded with a fifth-minute Nathan Ward success, but the Vipers went ahead again when captain and leading points scorer David Longstaff scored for the first time in six games.

Rob Rankin, who had not scored for five games, made it 3-1 to the Vipers five minutes into the second period after being set up by Ed Courtenay.

Soon after surviving a one minute and 33 second five-on-three powerplay, and the subsequent one-man disadvantage, the Vipers had their lead cut back, Bruce Mulherin scoring on 47 minutes.

In the 50th minute, the Vipers stunned the Phoenix with a quickfire brace. Ben Campbell finally scored his 10th goal of the season after being stuck on nine for 23 games and, in the next attack, Courtenay added his 17th goal of the season to make it 5-2.

With five minutes left on the clock Adam Walker cut the deficit.

The previous night, at a packed House of Steel, the Vipers had the opportunity to spoil the Steelers’ league championship party but instead found themselves trailing by two powerplay goals at 22 minutes.

Defenceman Scott Basiuk put the home side ahead on 11 minutes and two minutes into the second period, Doug Sheppard capitalised on another man advantage by firing over Andrew Verner’s left shoulder.

The Vipers then wasted two powerplay opportunities before halving the arrears just as their third had been killed, former Steeler, Courtenay, scoring. With 48 seconds of a late powerplay left the Vipers called a time out and pulled Verner.

The gamble failed after the offending Steeler had returned to the ice, with Jonathan Phillips shooting into the empty net on 59.56.

Wilson, another former Steeler, was given a tremendous ovation as he received his side’s Man of the Match honour.

PHOENIX: Ward 1+1, Mulherin and Walker 1+0, Clouthier, Garbutt and Smith 0+1.

VIPERS: D. Campbell 1+2, B. Campbell, Courtenay and Longstaff 1+1, Hutchins and McAllister 0+1.

STEELERS: Phillips 1+1, Basiuk and Sheppard 1+0, Cruickshank, Dowd, Dagenis and Sarich 0+1.

VIPERS: Courtenay 1+0, Hutchins and Rankin 0+1.