Newcastle Vipers 4 Braehead Clan 3
Oct 4 2010 by Peter Adams
THE Vipers hung on to record their first and overdue win of the season.
Leading 4-2 with three minutes remaining, the Vipers conceded a five on three powerplay goal in a thrilling finish when Bobby Chaumont shot the puck in off goalie Charlie Effinger.
One minute and 16 seconds remained of the subsequent five-on- four powerplay – and it was questionable if the Vipers could defend their lead as the Clan had been the dominant force throughout the final period.
The Vipers killed the powerplay, but found themselves icing three skaters against six at the end of the match because of two further penalties and the withdrawal of Clan netminder J F Perras to the bench.
Five times previously the Vipers have been beaten, and the win gained them instant revenge for Friday’s 3-2 away penalty-shot loss against the Clan.
The Vipers went into the game without forward Jaroslav Rzeszutko, who suffered a broken right wrist in Friday’s match.
It is anticipated the Pole will be a spectator for at least four weeks.
Four minutes into last night’s game at Whitley Bay, the Vipers went behind when Effinger was beaten at his near post by Dominic Noel’s backhanded strike.
Defenceman Sam Zajac, who had turned the puck over moments before the score, later made amends by blocking a goalbound shot with his left leg which would have made it 2-2 had it gone in.
Tom Hartmanis equalised with an 11th-minute powerplay marker, shooting over Perras’ left-hand shoulder, and just under six minutes later Jamie Carroll put the Vipers ahead when he sent the puck over the goalie’s other shoulder. A second powerplay capitalisation one minute into the second period increased the Vipers’ advantage, Dan Speer shooting across Perras from the right.
It was the first of three goals in as many minutes. Cody Bostock reduced the arrears during a powerplay, and then Carroll added his second of the night with a close-range finish for what would turn out to be the match-winning score.
SCORERS: VIPERS – Carroll 2+1, Speer 1+1, Hartmanis 1+0.
CLAN – Bostock, Chaumont and Noel 1+0, Landry and Richardson 0+2.
