Vipers beat Rockets in playoff opener

by Rob Benneian

The LaSalle Vipers won the first game of their opening round playoff series with the Strathroy Rockets 2-0 behind a 23 save shutout by goaltender Taylor Speed.

The Vipers earned the third seed in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Western Conference and home ice advantage for their series with the sixth-seed Rockets.

Alternate captain Scott Prier opened the scoring 10:04 into the contest, seven seconds after Rockets forward Nick Boyer was called for tripping. Richard Villani also scored on a power play early in the second period. Captain Eric Noel assisted on both tallies. The Vipers finished 2-for-6 on the man-advantage.

“We gave them a couple different looks (on the power play),” said Vipers head coach Ryan Donally. “Since the Christmas break we’ve been clicking around 30 per cent.”

The Vipers killed off both Strathroy power play opportunities thanks in part to Speed’s strong game and “buying in” to the team’s defensive system, according to Donally.

“We’ve known for getting a couple penalties here and there, but we’ve been getting better at being more disciplined,” said Noel. “In the playoffs that’s huge.”

Despite having fewer chances with an extra man, the Rockets had several high quality scoring chances but could not convert them into goals.

“You have to score on your chances in the playoffs and we didn’t do that,” said Rockets head coach Dan Gibson. “We had some good chances early and we didn’t score and then late in the game as well we didn’t put those chances in.”

The Rockets will host the Vipers Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series.