Vees fall behind early, lose on road

Vernon beats Penticton 3-0 to even best-of-seven series at 2 wins apiece

The Interior Division championship series is now a best-of-three. Jagger Williamson scored twice in a span of 2:44 midway through the first period as the Vernon Vipers beat the Penticton Vees 3-0 in front of 2,325 fans Tuesday at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.

The best-of-seven series is now tied at 2-2 with Game 5 Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre and Game 6 Saturday in Vernon. If a Game 7 is needed, it goes Monday at the SOEC. All remaining games are 7 p.m. puck-drops.

Jesse Lansdell added an empty-net goal for Vernon with 52 seconds left and Darion Hanson made 26 saves for his first post-season shutout.

Mat Robson made 28 stops for the Vees, who got blanked for the first time in the playoffs.

Robson gave up a tough goal to stake the Vipers to the lead at 9:23. Riley Brandt dumped a bouncing puck in from centre ice, Robson misplayed the short hop and Williamson swooped in and slipped in a backhander on the open side.

The Vipers doubled their advantage at 12:07 as Williamson tipped Michael Ufberg’s point shot from the high slot and between Robson’s pads.

The Vees power play, lethal in the first three games of the series, failed to deliver on five chances in the first two periods as the Vipers took a 2-0 lead into the third.

The Vees pushed hard to get back in it over the final 20 minutes, but Hanson was sensational and also got some help late from a crossbar on a blast by sniper Grant Cruikshank.

The Vees pulled Robson with 2:35 to go and Lansdell finished it off with the empty-net bull’s-eye shot from his own blue-line at 19:08.

ICE CHIPS: Vees G Mat Robson was named to the BCHL First All-Star Team, while Vees F Grant Cruikshank and Vernon D Michael Ufberg were named to the All-Rookie Team . . . . After registering seven points in three games, Vees F and captain Nicholas Jones was named BCHL Player of the Week . . . . Vees F Massimo Rizzo took the pre-game skate but was scratched along with D Greg Brydon and D Kenny Johnson, while D Sol Seibel and F Brody Dale were the Vernon scratches. . . . Game 4 of the Coastal Conference final goes tonight in Victoria with the Chilliwack Chiefs leading the Victoria Grizzlies 2-1.