By Jeromy Corrigan

Vipers win thriller over Kings

Feb 15, 2019 | 5:25 AM

The County Sportsplex was the site Thursday night for the lone game in the North West Junior Hockey League as the JDA Kings hosted the Sundown Oilfield Services Sexsmith Vipers.

Wyatt Lawrence opened the scoring 7:40 into the 1st period on the man advantage to lift the Kings to a 1-0 advantage.

However, this would turn out to be the only time in the contest where the Kings would have the lead.

Sexsmith would respond with a pair of goals in 52 seconds to take a 2-1 lead.

The middle frame saw both teams tickle the twine twice.

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Payton Lappenbush would get the scoring started in the period on the power play for the Vipers which was countered by a pair of markers by the Kings from Blake Gillingham and Jaiden LaPorte.

It appeared the game was going to go into the 3rd period tied at 3, but with just 7 seconds remaining in the frame, Blain Moskalyk would restore the lead for the Vipers making it 4-3.

The lead did not last long to start the 3rd as Wyatt Lawrence netted his 2nd of night to tie the game at 4 for the Kings, but once again it would be Sexsmith who responded quickly.

Larry Yellowknee would make it 5-4 Vipers 42 seconds after the Lawrence tying goal, and Mikal Chalifoux made it a two-goal lead on the man advantage 9:06 into the frame.

However, the Kings would not go away.

Louka Richard would get the Kings back to within 1 with 3:49 to go in the period, and with 47 seconds remaining Jaiden LaPorte would tie the game at 6 and send it to over time.

Unfortunately for the home side though, they could not complete the comeback.

2:04 into the extra session, Thomas Lavalley would play hero for the Vipers as he popped home his 9th of the season to make the final 7-6 Vipers.

With the win, the Vipers are now 11-21-3 on the year.

They will finish in 6th place in the NWJHL standings, and they could even meet the Kings in the 1st round.

The single point vaults the Kings record to 18-14-2.

They now sit in a tie for 3rd place in the NWJHL with the North Peace Navigators, but the Kings have played 1 less game than the Navs.

3rd place though will more than likely be decided Friday night when the Kings travel to Peace River to face the Navigators one final time in the regular season.

Elsewhere, it will be the Sundown Oilfield Services Sexsmith Vipers hosting the Fort St.John Huskies.

Both games are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. puck drops.