KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — The Kensington Vipers are looking to bounce back on home ice.
The Vipers will host the Western Red Wings in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League final series on Sunday. Puck drop at Credit Union Centre in Kensington is set for 7 p.m.
The Red Wings, who are looking to win their third straight provincial title, took the series opener 3-1 at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Wednesday.
“I saw a lot of improvement from our group throughout Game 1,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. “We are looking to keep the ball rolling.
“I thought we had a sluggish start to Game 1, and looked like a team that hadn’t played a hockey game in a week. I really, really liked our third period the other night, and are looking forward to building off that going into Kensington.”
Click here for story on Game 1 between Red Wings and Vipers:
Vipers head coach Wade Waddell noted he wasn’t “entirely happy” with his team’s performance in Game 1.
“We didn’t play our best game, we were just OK,” assessed Waddell, who is looking for the Vipers to play more physical in Game 2.
“One of our calling cards is we are physical,” continued Waddell. “It was a very quiet (first) game with penalties and there was really no sustained physicality throughout the game.
“If we are going to be successful, we have to turn it into a physical series. That being said, there is a line there that we can’t cross because of their power play and the high-end talent they have up front.
“We want to take a page out of their book and put more shots on net. We want to put the onus on the goaltender to make saves.”
The Red Wings directed 48 shots at Vipers goaltender Caleb Coyle in Game 1, but Waddell feels that statistic may not tell the entire story.
“Not to take anything from them, but Western puts pucks at the net and they go to the net hard,” said Waddell. “I felt for the most part we did a pretty good job of limiting them.
“That being said, I thought Caleb had a heck of a game, but sometimes the shots are misleading. In the second period they had the shots 17-9 for them, but I thought we were the better team in the second period.”
Click here for IJHL final series preview:
Coyle will get the Game 2 start for the Vipers while the Red Wings will go back to Bronson Banks, who made 23 saves in Game 1.
DesRoches was also surprised at the lack of physical play in the series opener, but noted he believes both teams understand the importance of staying out of the penalty box.
“The game was really fast the other night, and it was hard for guys to get involved in some of that stuff without putting yourself out of position,” said DesRoches. “It was a well-played hockey game at both ends.”
Both offences are expected to get a boost for Game 2. Blake Gallant is expected back and CJ McCardle is also close to returning for the Vipers.
“We are really excited to get Alex Morrissey back after he had the flu for Game 1,” said DesRoches. “Any time you have leading goal-scorer in the league out of the lineup, he is sorely missed.”
Jason.simmonds@journalpioneer
Twitter.com/JpsportsJason
https://www.facebook.com/jason.simmonds.180
