The West Kelowna Warriors suffered another third period to forget as the Vernon Vipers scored four times in the final period to pick up a 6-1 victory on Friday night against at Kal Tire Place.
The Warriors did something they hadn’t done in eight games and that was score the games first goal and it came courtesy of a power play. Michael Ryan’s right point shot past through a heavy screen in front of Vipers goaltender Darion Hanson and past his glove for Ryan’s 4th goal of the season and a 1-0 Warriors advantage at the 4:22 mark of the 1st period.
The Vipers would begin their stretch of six unanswered goals as at 5:59 of the 1st period, Niko Karamanis made the teddy bears fly. His sharp angled shot crept just under the crossbar of Warriors netminder Nik Amundrud to tie the score at one.
Karamanis was back at it again later in the period on a sharp angle that saw the puck go from Sol Seibel to the front of the goal and the Viper forward had it bank off of him and in at the 17:22 mark of the 1st period for the 2-1 Vipers lead.
The 2nd period registered as scoreless despite a flurry of chances for the Warriors, including a disallowed goal at the 9:25 mark of the 2nd period as Connor Sodergren centered with the puck apparently being thrown into the goal, although there was no distinct throwing motion. West Kelowna fired 18 shots on goal in the 2nd but couldn’t beat Hanson.
The Vipers scored four times in the 3rd period with Jimmy Lambert starting the scoring at 1:15 of the 3rd period to make it 3-1 Vernon before Austin Adamson tallied on the power play at the 12:13 mark of the 3rd frame to make it 4-1 Vipers.
Brett Stapley scored on a breakaway at the 13:46 mark of the 3rd period with Ryan Brushett adding the final Viper goal at the 17:54 mark of the 3rd period to end the scoring for the night in a penalty filled third period that saw the Vernon take the game by a 6-1 final.
Warriors goaltender Nik Amundrud made 36 saves on 42 shots for his 3rd loss of the season while Vernon netminder Darion Hanson stopped 30 of 31 shots for his 3rd victory of the season.
FINAL SCORE: 6-1 Vipers
SHOTS: 42-31 Vipers
PP: Warriors (1/6) Vipers (1/5)
3 STARS: 1) Niko Karamanis (2-0-2)
2) Darion Hanson (30 saves on 31 shots)
3) Brett Stapley (1-1-2)
Attendance: 2048
The Warriors (12-15-0-1) return to Royal LePage Place for the first time in four games when they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (9-15-1-4) to finish out their season series. Puck drop is 7:00 PM with tickets available at the Warriors office or by calling Kim at (250) 769-7051.
