The Westside Warriors used two goals from Tyler Krause and another rock-solid goaltending performance by Kevin Boyle en route to a 5-2 victory over the Vipers in Vernon.
The convincing Westside victory evens the Interior Conference Semi-Final at one game apiece.
The series now shifts to Westside for games three and four this weekend.
Krause opened the scoring near the halfway mark of the first when he banked home a rebound off a Travis Blanleil wrist shot. Blake Voth made the initial save for the Vipers, but he kicked out a big rebound to Krause who picked up his second goal in as many games.
Moments later the Vipers top sniper Dylan Walchuk tied the game. Walchuk fired a slap shot from inside the left circle and the puck managed to squeak through Boyle?s left arm and body.
The Warriors put themselves ahead 2-1 late in the frame when Quinn Gould tipped a Tyler Brickler point shot past Voth while on the man advantage.
The Warriors had three power-plays to the Vipers one in the first period.
The Warriors were outshot again by a large margin in the first, 12-7.
Captain Alex Grieve scored his league leading 8th playoff goal :33 seconds into the second. Grieve used some puck-luck as he drove the side of the net and the puck found its way through Voth to make it 3-1.
Voth was quickly replaced with backup Kirby Halcrow.
Minutes later the Snakes Malcolm Lyle would get a power-play goal and close the gap to 3-2.
That would be as close as the match would get though. Westside forward Tyler Brickler sniped a wrist shot through the glove of Halcrow :59 seconds into the third. Gould picked up the lone assist on Brickler?s second goal this post-season.
Krause would add an empty netter, unassisted, in the final minute to seal the deal for his Westside team. Tyler also picked up the games 1st star after being named the 3rd star in the previous night?s match.
Boyle had another blockbuster night stopping 38 shots, while the Warriors only mustered 24 shots against Voth/Halcrow. 4 shots more than they took in game one.
Westside went 1-for-4 with the man advantage, while Vernon went 1-for-5.
The series moves to Westside for game three this Friday, March 11th and game four on Saturday, March 12th.
Game Notes:
Grayson Downing sat out the game with an upper body injury.
Max French saw his first action since his two game suspension dating back to game six of the first round versus Trail.
