First star Joey Cipollone had a goal and an assist and goalie Andrew Shortridge made 32 saves to earn third-star honours as the Vernon Vipers dumped the Nanaimo Clippers 6-2 in B.C. Hockey League action Friday night at Kal Tire Place.
It was the Vipers’ first home game in nearly three weeks.
Vernon led 1-0 after one period and 4-0 after two on goals from Brett Stapley, Joe Sacco, Odeen Tufto – on a penalty shot – and Cipollone, whose goal chased Clippers starting netminder Jonathan Reinhart midway through the middle frame.
Nanaimo got goals 20 seconds apart in the first 1:19 of the third from Zach Court and Devin Brosseau to cut the lead in half.
Jimmy Lambert and Griffin James restored Vernon’s four-goal cushion late in the game, both scoring on booming slapshots past Reinhart’s replacement, Jakob Walter.
Reinhart and Walter combined to make 35 saves as Vernon outshot Nanaimo 41-34.
Vernon defenceman Mac Ferner set up two goals and was named the game’s second star.
The win avenged a 5-2 loss to the Clippers six days before in Nanaimo.
The Vipers take on the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place. The Spruce Kings fell 7-3 Friday to the Smoke Eaters in Trail.
More on Friday’s game can be found in Sunday’s Morning Star.