Vernon, BC: It wasn’t a masterpiece, but as is often the case when Vernon and Spruce Grove meet, it came down to the final minutes as the Saints held on for a 3–2 win.
First Period
The Vipers generated early pressure with several quality looks at Finn Marshall but couldn’t break through. Spruce Grove opened the scoring when a point shot from Brett Barnes deflected off Declan Waddick for his 15th of the season.
Vernon had two power-play opportunities but came up empty. Lane Maarhuis settled in after the early goal and delivered a steady frame. Shots favoured the Saints 13–7 after one.
Second Period
Both goaltenders were sharp in a tightly played middle frame, each stopping 10 shots — several of the high-danger variety.
Each team had a power play, but the penalty kills were aggressive and effective, with both PK units creating better scoring chances than the opposing power plays. Shots were even at 10–10 in the period.
Third Period
The offense finally opened up in the third. Oliver Czaja tied the game at one with a beautiful redirection for his third of the season, assisted by Thomas Duhamel and Deagan McMillan.
Puck luck turned against Vernon soon after as Josh Polak sent a puck toward the net that deflected off a Vipers defender and in, restoring a 2–1 Saints lead.
Czaja responded again, scoring his second of the night — nearly a carbon copy of his first — off a feed from Oscar Bjork and McMillan to tie the game 2–2.
Less than two minutes later, Felix Haibock scored his 17th of the season to give Spruce Grove the lead for good. Vernon pushed late and outshot the Saints 13–8 in the third but ran out of time.
Final Shots
Spruce Grove 31 – Vernon 30
Game Stars
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Oliver Czaja (2G)
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Declan Waddick (1G, 1A)
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Deagan McMillan (2A)
FortisBC Energy Player of the Game: Dmitrii Kubantsev
The Vipers will look to regroup quickly as they host the Nanaimo Clippers on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM.
