Looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Chatham the night before, the Lasalle Vipers hit the road for the first time this season against the Sarnia Legionnaires. The previous two meetings between the teams were played in Lasalle, with the Vipers winning both by a score of 5-4. This matchup marked the first of three consecutive road games before Lasalle returns home.
Logan Phillips started this game for Lasalle against his former team. Phillips was acquired at the deadline in exchange for Dante Bertolin. The opening frame was evenly played, until the Legionnaires struck first, scoring at 15:20 to take the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
The Vipers came out flying to start the second period, scoring twice in the opening two minutes. Connor Chartrand netted the equalizer at 1:12, and Noah Caswell followed up just 31 seconds later at 1:43 to put Lasalle ahead 2-1. The only setback of the period came at 11:10 when the Vipers were called for too many men, but the penalty kill successfully kept Sarnia off the board.
Sarnia tied the game up at 7:28 and quickly added another goal at 10:06 to regain the lead. Only down by one, tensions ran high at 16:36 when Alec Stewart and a Legionnaires player both received two-minute roughing minors. Just 22 seconds later, Sarnia extended their lead to 4-2 before sealing the game at 19:05 with their fifth and final goal.
The Vipers will look for redemption when they return to Sarnia for a rematch on Thursday February 20th. They then travel to Elmira on Sunday February 23rd to take on the Sugar Kings.
Article: Emma Cicovacki
Photo: Isabella Ruccolo
