Warriors host rival Vees tonight

West Kelowna looks to rebound from double-OT loss to Vipers in Vernon

The West Kelowna Warriors are back at home tonight, entertaining the Penticton Vees at Royal LePage Place at 7 p.m.

The Warriors managed to earn a point in Vernon on Wednesday night thanks to a 43-save performance from Cody Porter in a 3-2 double-overtime defeat to the Vipers at Kal Tire Place.

After falling behind in the first period, the Warriors tied the game just 2:57 into the middle stanza on Michael Ryan’s point shot through a screen in front of Vipers goaltender Ty Taylor.

West Kelowna took its only lead less than four minutes later, as Stephen Kleysen scored his sixth goal of the season. Taylor had made a terrific save off Lucas Cullen, but the puck kicked out to Kleysen in the slot for a 2-1 lead at 6:51 of the second period.

The Vipers pulled even at 17:42, with their second power-play goal of the game. Keyvan Mokhtari attempted a centering pass from the right circle, but the puck redirected in off a skate in front.

Vernon’s first goal broke an 0-for-17 slump on the man advantage, when Jesse Lansdell opened the scoring at 12:41 of the opening frame.

The third period and first overtime were scoreless, with limited chances, before the Vipers netted the winner.

Kleysen tried to feed Jared Marino, but the puck missed him and wrapped all the way out to centre ice where Jimmy Lambert beat Kleysen to the loose puck near the Vipers’ bench, skated into the offensive zone and wired a shot on the blocker side of Porter at 1:04.