Two goals five minutes apart late in the second period were enough for the hometown Wenatchee Wild Sunday night.
Brian Adams’ unassisted shorthanded goal cut like a knife at 13:52, and Ethan Wolthers added salt to the Vernon Vipers’ wounds at 18:31, and the Wild held on for a 2-1 win in front of 1,499 fans, evening the best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League Interior Conference quarterfinal at 1-1.
Games 3 and 4 are slated for Kal Tire Place Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3 and 4 (7 p.m. starts). Game 5 returns to the Town Toyota Centre in Wenatchee Friday. Game 6, if needed, would be played in Vernon at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8.
The Vipers broke Daniel Chenard’s shutout bid with 62 seconds left in regulation on a goal by Matt Kowalski, but could not get the equalizer to force overtime.
READ MORE: Vernon Vipers take series opener
Chenard was named the game’s first star, making just 14 saves on the night. Reilly Herbst, who shutout the Wild 3-0 in Game 1, making 30 saves and was the game’s second star, stopped 19 of 21 shots Sunday.
Elsewhere Sunday:
The Penticton Vees hammered the West Kelowna Warriors 9-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven quarterfinal. GAme 4 is at Royal LePage Place Tuesday.
The league champion Coquitlam Express shutout the Langley Rivermen 3-0 to take a 2-0 lead in that best-of-seven Mainland Division semifinal.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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