Vipers make lead count, beat Vees 3-1

The Vernon Vipers ended a long-stretch of home-ice futility against the Penticton Vees.

Steven Jandric scored twice as the Vipers beat the Vees 3-1 Friday for their first win at Kal Tire Place in 2017 and first win after eight straight home losses to Penticton dating back to Feb. 22, 2014.

Brett Stapley had two assists and Austin Adamson also scored as Vernon (24-15-4-4) edged within 10 points of the first-place Vees (32-11-1-1) in the Interior Division.

Darion Hanson stopped 33 shots for the Vipers, who got their first win at home since Dec. 29 against Salmon Arm.

Grant Cruikshank scored his team-leading 28th goal and Mat Robson made 31 stops for the Vees, who have lost five straight road games going back to a win in West Kelowna back on Nov. 22.

It was the seventh and final regular season meeting between the two teams, with each team winning three games along with a 3-3 tie Wednesday in Penticton.

For the fifth time in the seven games, the Vipers scored first, and it was a critical one coming with 56 seconds left in the first period. Jandric knocked in a rebound of Jimmy Lambert’s shot as the Vipers went 200 feet after winning a defensive zone faceoff.

The Vees almost tied it on a power play early in the second as Duncan Campbell bombed one from the slot off the crossbar.

Then, at the 3:15 mark, the Vipers went up 2-0 as an unmarked Jandric had another easy tap-in after Robson stopped Cameron Trott’s point shot.

Adamson batted one out of the air from a scramble in front to make it 3-0 Vipers at 17:11.

The Vees got on a late power play and pulled Robson for a 6-on-4. Cruikshank rifled a shot from the top of the slot through a screen and in off the post from Taylor Sanheim and Chris Klack with 2:37 to play.

Jandric, Stapley and Hanson were the three stars in front of 2,235 fans.

The Vees will try to regroup for another road game tonight at 7 p.m. against the Trail Smoke Eaters.

The Vipers remain at home to play the Nanaimo Clippers at 6 p.m. and the Prince George Spruce Kings on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Grizzlies 7, Warriors 2: Nick Guiney and Jamie Rome each scored twice as Victoria thumped a depleted West Kelowna team as the Warriors started a three-game road trip.

Carter Berger, Drayson Pears and Tyler Welsh also scored for the Grizzlies (31-10-3-4), who blew the game open by outscoring the visitors 5-1 in the second period.

Braiden Epp and Chase Dubois scored for West Kelowna (22-21-1-0), which was outshot 34-21.

The Warriors — missing five regulars due to injury — visit Powell River tonight at 7:15 p.m. and Chilliwack Sunday at 5 p.m.