The LaSalle Vipers turned in arguably their most complete game of the season in a 4–1 victory over the St. Marys Lincolns on Wednesday night at the Vollmer Complex.
Controlling much of the game from start to finish, the Vipers outshot the Lincolns 37-27 and got goals from Spencer Paradis, Hayden Heinrich, Abdul Abouzeeni and Ray Hamlin, and if not for some dazzling saves by St. Marys netminder Kyle Curtin, the score would have been more lopsided. His counterpart Sami Molu was up to the task all night as well, turning aside 26 shots to earn his 12th win of the season.
Curtin’s stellar play allowed the Lincolns to stay in the game and they drew even at 1-1 mid way through the second period. LaSalle responded quickly however two minutes later when the rebound from Matt Carvalho’s shot bounced off of Hayden Heinrich’s chest and into the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal. Abdul Abouzeeni then scored the nicest goal of the evening on a toe drag move and then a perfect shot up and under the bar to give the Vipers a two-goal cushion heading into the third where Ray Hamlin capped the scoring at 1:27 of the final frame.
With the win, the Vipers gained two points on the Lincolns in the race for third-place in the Western Conference. LaSalle now sits five points back of St. Marys with a game in hand and still have two more games against them.
The Vipers will now prepare for back-to-back road games this weekend as they travel to Komoka to take on the Kings on Saturday night, and then finish the week with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Chatham Maroons.
Players Choice for Player of the Game: Sami Molu