It wasn’t the result the Vipers were looking for as they played their final regular season game against the Merritt Centennials. The Snakes came out a little flat, found themselves behind by a pair of goals and couldn’t find a way to solve Jake Berger. With the 3-0 loss the Vipers felt defeat for just the first time in nearly 2 months away from home.
The Vipers and Cents both had good opening shifts and the Vipers killed off an early penalty. The Cents opened the scoring as speedster Zach Risteau wristed a puck right up under the bar from the bottom of the left circle. Merritt added on after a great save from Ty Taylor, Tyler Ward was able to snap home his 13th of the season to increase the lead under two minutes after the Risteau marker. The Vipers came close to cutting the deficit as Ryan Brushett rang a shot off the cross bar. The period would finish 2-0 Merritt.
The Vipers had a better period in the second, but were unable to solve Jake Berger. Ty Taylor remained sharp and after 40 minutes it was still 2-0. On a sidebar, Sol Seibel went toe to toe with Zach Zorn in a spirited tilt, for his 2nd BCHL scrap.
The Vipers pushed thanks to a powerplay early in the period, but had trouble finding the back of the net. A late goal from Rylan Van Unen iced it for Merritt as they would get their first shut out of the season in a 3-0 win.
The Vipers will head home to welcome Wenatchee Friday night at Kal Tire Place.
