A snowy road trip and a midweek schedule change didn’t stop the LaSalle Vipers from earning a 4-3 overtime win in London on Wednesday night. The Vipers’ newest additions made an immediate impact in a back-and-forth contest that needed an extra frame to decide the outcome.
The opening period was evenly played, with both teams trading chances and neither finding the back of the net. Just two penalties were called in the first 20 minutes, as Lucas Pougnet took a tripping minor at 13:16, followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to Grady Spicer at 15:26.
London broke the deadlock at 13:57 of the second period, but LaSalle responded late. Shawn Costello, skating in just his second game with the Vipers after spending the past season and half with the Windsor Spitfires, continued his string start, Costello buried his first goal as a Viper at 19:21 to even the score heading into the third.
The Nationals regained the lead early in the third with a power-play goal at 2:11. LaSalle answered once again, this time on the man advantage, as Costello struck his second of the night to tie the game. London responded yet again on the power play, taking a 3-2 lead late in the period. With time winding down, Josh Lepain, who was facing his former team, came in clutch for the Vipers, scoring with just 17 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Overtime didn’t last long. Adriano Tonin, who has a knack for playing hero in the extra frame, ended the game with an unassisted winner to secure a 4-3 win for the Vipers.
The Vipers head back up the 401 on Saturday for a matchup in Komoka.
Article: Emma Cicovacki
Photo: Isabella Ruccolo
