The LaSalle Vipers took a 3-1 lead in their first round series against the Chatham Maroons Wednesday night with a 5-3 come from behind win. Brayden Degelas and Noah Mathieson gave the visiting Maroons a 3-1 lead early in the second period.
Cole Davis notched his first of the series shorthanded at 4:19 of the third cutting the deficit to one. "In our room we believe in our ability to come back." said Vipers' head coach Matt Beaudoin. "That first one really sparked us. That was key."
Chatham's Joshua Lepain looked to have given the Maroons a 4-2 shortly afterwards but the goal was waived off because of goaltender interference.
Moments later Brody Gillis tied the game with a tap in at the side of the net. 48 seconds later it was Wylie Birkett with his second of the series on the powerplay giving the Vipers a 4-3 lead. Lee Knight closed out the scoring at 13:03 giving LaSalle a chance to close out the series at home Friday night.
"We gotta stay calm. We still have a job to do. It's one game at a time" Beaudoin said.