The West Kelowna Warriors won their second straight 11 AM game with a 6-4 victory over the Vernon Vipers Wednesday at Kal Tire Place.
The Vipers once again opened the scoring in the first period with Ben Butcher scoring his second in as many games, but Kylar Hope responded on the power play for West Kelowna to tie the game at one after twenty minutes.
It was a strong second period for West Kelowna as they scored three times to open up a 4-1 lead. Kristian Blumenschein scored from the point on the man advantage, before Connor Sodergren and Garrett Forster both beat Andrew Shortridge with great shots.
The Vipers cut the lead to two just 2:11 into the third period, and pressed their way forwards to try and even the game up.
A short-handed goal from West Kelowna’s Nick Rutigliano looked to put the game away as the Warriors went up 5-2 with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Vernon kept coming, scoring twice in 58 seconds in the final two minutes to get within one.
Jonathan Desbiens scored the empty net goal to seal the 6-4 victory, as Desbiens passed Trevor Bailey for the single-season goal scoring mark with his 42nd. Desbiens sits 6 points back of Bailey’s single-season points mark with two games left.
West Kelowna hosts Vernon on Friday night at Royal LePage Place as they finish their season series at 7 PM.
