Vipers stave off elimination

Red Wings to host Game 6 on Monday

The Island Junior Hockey League championship will be decided next week.

The Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings will take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final into Game 6 at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Monday at 7:30 p.m. A Vipers’ win will force a Game 7 for the second year in a row in Kensington on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

The two teams split back-toback games, with the Red Wings winning 3-2 in double overtime on Thursday night to take a 3-1 series lead, and the Vipers staving off elimination with a 5-1 victory on Friday night.

Vipers 5, Red Wings 1

At Community Gardens, both squads lost their captains early in the first period. The Red Wings’ Chasse Gallant left with an apparent injury, and the Vipers’ Jordan Mayhew was assessed a match penalty for kicking at 4:36.

After the teams exchanged goals, Easton Smith picked the top corner over the left shoulder of Red Wings goaltender Bronson Banks on a one-timer from down low off the left wing to make it 2-1 at 15:02 of the first period. Riley Gallant’s shot deflected off a Western defender for a power-play goal with one second remaining to send the Vipers into the first intermission up 3-1.

After the Vipers weathered some pressure from the Red Wings early in the second period, Campbell Gallant (1-1) and Cameron Roberts (1-1) scored to make it 5-1 after 40 minutes.

Logan Vandervelden also scored for the Vipers while Spencer McAllister (2), Liam Giffen, Drew Grady and Ryan Murray chipped in with assists.

Dillon Wall, assisted by Calvin McRae and Connor Morrissey, countered for the Red Wings.

Grant Grady made 39 saves for Kensington. Banks turned aside 24 of 29 shots through the first two periods, and Bradley Shea blocked all 11 shots he faced in the final 20 minutes.

Red Wings 3, Vipers 2 (2OT)

At the Evangeline Recreation Centre, Chasse Gallant delivered when the Red Wings needed it the most.

Gallant scored the tying goal in the second period, and then netted the game-winning goal at 13:36 of the second overtime period.

Jason Gallant and Cole Hackett drew assists on Gallant’s game-winner.