The LaSalle Vipers will be facing elimination on Wednesday night in LaSalle, following a pair of weekend losses that saw the Leamington Flyers take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the GOJHL Western Conference Semifinals.
In Game 2 on Saturday night in LaSalle, Leamington forward Ryan MacPherson broke a 2-2 score with a power-play goal at 7:20 of the third period, and then added the insurance marker seven minutes later. The Flyers added an empty-net goal to result in a 5-2 victory in what was a closely contested game in front of 1152 fans at the Vollmer Complex. Lee Knight and Connor Tucker scored for the Vipers, while Ian Michelone made 38 saves in the loss.
Desparately needing a win on Sunday night in Game 3 back in Leamington, the Vipers fell behind early again as the Flyers waves of speed broke down the LaSalle defense for two first period goals. After adding a third goal late in the second period, the Flyers would then take advantage of some undisciplined LaSalle play by notching two power-play goals less than a minute apart to blow the game open. Ryan MacPherson would add his second of the evening before Vipers captain Spencer Lecot broke Bryce Walcarius’ shutout bid with a power-play marker late in the third to close out the scoring in a 6-1 Leamington win on home ice.
The Vipers will now face a do-or-die situation as the series returns to LaSalle for Game 4 on Wednesday night, with puck-drop set for 7:00 PM.