With the game destined for Overtime, Garrett Forster’s point shot deflected off a Vernon Viper’s stick and into the goal with 5.1 seconds remaining on Friday night to give the Warriors a 5-4 win.
It was the third win in three games this week against Vernon, as this time the Warriors struck first, but Vernon held a 3-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
Jonathan Desbiens snapped home his 43rd of the season to open the scoring for the Warriors, as he muscled the wrist shot past Andrew Shortridge.
The Vipers would respond short-handed three minutes later as Joe Sacco tied the game at one, before Odeen Tufto gave the Vipers the lead on a breakaway, after an excellent lead pass from the back end.
Ben Butcher scored his third against West Kelowna this week to make it 3-1.
The Warriors Kylar Hope showed off his baseball skills, batting one out of midair to get West Kelowna within one, before Desbiens buried his second of the night off a nice little pass from Nick Rutigliano in the slot. The rapid fire release from Desbiens tickled the twine at 15:25.
Just one minute later, Latrell Charleson beat Matthew Greenfield from the circle with Rylan Yaremko in the box to reinstate the Vernon lead.
West Kelowna came out possessed in the third period, dominating control of the puck and the shot clock in the final twenty minutes. Bryan Basilico’s nifty deflection from the slot tied the game at four, but Shortridge stood tall down the stretch.
In the final minute, Liam Blackburn controlled the puck for a good chunk of time, before finally Forster got control of it and threw a hard shot towards the goal, deflecting off Liam Finlay’s stick in front and going top corner.
With the win, the Warriors secured home-ice advantage in the first round of the BCHL playoffs, and will host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on March 4th and 5th in Games 1 and 2. The full schedule will be released Saturday.
The Warriors wrap up their regular season against the Silverbacks February 26th at Royal LePage Place.
