The LaSalle Vipers split a home-and-home set with the Leamington Flyers, winning at home on Wednesday night before dropping the return game on Thursday night in Leamington.
On Wednesday, the Vipers rallied in dramatic fashion to defeat their rivals for the fourth time in five games between the two clubs. Trailing 2-0 in the third period, goals by Cole Davis and Nicholas Graniero brought the game level late in regulation. Just when it looked like the game was destined for overtime, rookie forward Cole Davis, as he did on his first goal of the game, used his great speed and balance to burn by Flyers defenders and cut to the net before beating goaltender Bryce Walcarius for the game-winning goal with 10 seconds left on the clock. The goal and the comeback shocked the big crowd at the Vollmer Complex as the Vipers came back and stole the two points. Ian Michelone was outstanding in net for LaSalle, making 44 saves for his 11th win of the season.
The following night in Leamington, the Flyers responded with a lopsided 6-1 victory on home ice. Holding a 3-1 advantage after 20 minutes of play, Leamington would add two more in the second and another in the third to skate away with the win and snap LaSalle’s five-game winning streak. It was the first game in the six-game season-series where the game was decided by more than one goal. Despite the loss, the Vipers took the season-series with the Flyers 4-2.
The Vipers will look to get back in the win column on Saturday night where they’ll close out their busy week with a road game in Strathroy against the Rockets.
