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Vipers take series opener over Colts

Feb 26, 2018 | 2:34 PM

The Red Deer Vipers cruised to a 6-1 game one victory over the Mountainview Colts Saturday in their best-of-five playoff series.

Lane Sim opened the scoring on Saturday night just 2:20 into the contest. The rest of the opening frame would be just as cruel to the visitors – Aidan Wilson, Logan Linnell and Kayson Gallant all found twine as the Vipers surged out to a 4-0 lead after 20, chasing Colts starter Ethan Woodward from the crease in the process.

After being outshot 15-7 in the first, the Colts came out firing in the second period. They peppered Red Deer’s Branden Bilodeau with 23 shots, but only Spencer Dowd managed to fire one by him. The Vipers only managed five shots on Thomas Della-Siega, who was solid in relief for Mountainview.

The Vipers returned to form in the third, out shooting the Colts 15-6 and getting tallies from Logan Linnell and rookie forward Jordan Volk in the process. Final 6-1 Vipers.

Game one was what could be expected of an opener between two clubs with a certain amount of disdain for one another as the teams racked up 120 penalty minutes.

Red Deer will look to put a stranglehold on the series as game two goes tonight [Monday] at 8 p.m. at the Didsbury Recreation Centre. You can tune in online with live play-by-play at www.mixlr.com/reddeervipers .

In the other HJHL playoff series, the Blackfalds Wranglers find themselves on the brink of elimination trailing the Airdrie Thunder two game to one. Game four of that series goes Tuesday night in Blackfalds.

In the Southern Division, the High River Flyers lead the favoured Coaldale Copperheads two games to one. The Okotoks Bisons swept the Cochrane Generals in three straight.