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Vipers Win Back and Forth Tilt With Late Game Heroics

Vernon, BC:  Teddy Wooding tied the game up early in the third period and Matt Kowalski scored the game winner late in regulation as the Vernon Vipers defeated the Nanaimo Clippers in front of over 2000 fans at Kal Tire Place on Friday night.

Physicality was front and center early in the game as Landon Fuller hammered Clippers captain Marcus Mitchell.   Fuller was assessed a 2 minute penalty and as the penalty was about to expire, Carter Stephenson snapped home a shot from the left circle to make it 1-0.  Just 18 seconds later, Elan Barlevwise set up Nick Cherkowski who poked home his 2nd of the year to make it 1-1.  Shortly after a Vipers powerplay expired, Connor Marritt was set up for his 12th of the year to make it 2-1 Vernon.  Sammy Steele responded for the Clippers ripping home a shot off the rush to make it 2-2 after 2.

The Vipers buzzed in the second period outshooting Nanaimo 16-8.  Moments after a Vipers powerplay expired, Jesse Lansdell set up Jagger Williamson for his 9th of the season to make it 3-2 Vipers.  The Snakes continued the pressure but didn’t see much puck luck despite the pressure.  Lansdell nearly made it a 2 goal lead as a puck rolled along the goal line, but not across it as the game remained tight.  Thomas Samuelsen made it 3-3 in the final few minutes of the period.  Naniamos powerplay struck again in the dying seconds of the 2nd as Robby Drazner rang up his 4th to give the Clippers a 4-3 lead after 2 period.

The Vipers started the 3rd period on a man advantage, but couldn’t muster the tying goal.  Teddy Wooding equalized the game at 4 with a deflection of a Tyler Ho early in the 3rd.  This game seemed destined to go passed the 60 minute mark, but the Vipers caused a turnover and Matt Kowalski converted for his 12th of the year to make it 5-4 with just 95 seconds remaining.  The Clippers pushed the pace trying to get the game tied, but the horn would sound to give the Vipers a crucial 5-4 win.

Here’s the scoring summary:

1ST PERIOD

NAN – Carter Stephenson (4) – Josh Bourne (21), Tyler Williams (32) – 2:46 (PPG)

VER – Nick Cherkowski (2) – Elan Bar lev wise (17) – 3:04

VER – Connor Marritt (12) – Matt Kowalski (24), Josh Latta (21) – 7:55

NAN – Sammy Steele (17) – Thomas Samuelsen (10), Ethan Scardina (24) – 14:06

2ND PERIOD

VER – Jagger Williamson (9) – Jesse Lansdell (13), Michael Young (13) – 6:47

NAN – Thomas Samuelsen (11) – Sammy Steele (21), Ethan Scardina (25) – 16:18

NAN – Robby Drazner (4) – Tyler Williams (33), Josh Bourne (22) – 19:48 (PPG)

3RD PERIOD

VER – Teddy Wooding (18) – Tyler Ho (6) – 3:49

VER – Matt Kowalski (12) – unassisted – 18:25

The Vipers continue with their 3 game in 3 night schedule Saturday night when they travel to West Kelowna to take on the Warriors.