The LaSalle Vipers wrapped up their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday night as they hosted the Listowel Cyclones. In what was a close contest for most of the night, the Vipers ultimately fell 5-2, with two late empty-net goals putting the game out of reach. The next night, the Vipers bounced back in a big way in their final road game of the regular season, delivering a dominant performance in a 9-2 victory over the Sarnia Legionnaires.
Listowel opened the scoring late in the first period after Lucas Pougnet was called for a penalty. The Cyclones capitalized on the power play at 12:45 to take the early lead before finding the back of the net less than a minute later at 13:22, making it 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
LaSalle responded early in the second period when Grady Spicer scored his 12th goal of the season, pulling the Vipers within one. The one-goal deficit was short lived, however, as Listowel answered quickly with their third goal at 2:49 to restore the advantage. Tensions between the two teams began to rise as several penalties were called against the Vipers, including roughing and interference. Josh Lepain cut the deficit back to one when he scored at 12:40.
The third period remained tight for much of the frame until the final minutes, when the Cyclones sealed the win with empty-net goals at 18:48 and 19:30 to secure the 5-2 win.
The following night, LaSalle came out flying in the opening period, scoring three times to take early control of the game. Shawn Costello opened the scoring at 4:02 after finding himself all alone. Josh Lepain added to the lead at 9:21 before Michael Cunha buried what would be the game-winning goal at 13:41.
Sarnia got on the board early in the second period at 3:04, but the Vipers quickly responded with a pair of power-play goals. Nic Rosati struck first at 11:57, followed by Costello’s second of the night at 13:13. Back to even strength, Matteo Vilardi extended the lead further at 14:00 to give LaSalle at a comfortable lead heading into the third period.
The Vipers carried that momentum into the third, opening the frame on the power play after a late-period roughing penalty to Sarnia. Connor Chartrand capitalized on the opportunity. Ian Inskip added to the tally at 6:18, and Chartrand recorded his second of the night at 13:22 to bring LaSalle’s total to nine. Sarnia managed to score their second goal of the night at 15:02, but the result was already well in the hands of the Vipers.
With the regular season now complete, the Vipers will turn their attention to the standings as they await confirmation of their first-round playoff opponent. Playoff action is set to begin next week as LaSalle prepares for the postseason.
Article/Photo: Emma Cicovacki
