The Vernon Vipers earned a split with the Wenatchee Wild on the weekend.
Following a 4-3 victory in overtime Saturday, the Vipers fell to the Wild 3-0 Sunday despite outshooting the home team 26-16.
Matt Gosiewski had a goal and an assist and Austin Park stopped all 26 shots he faced for the shutout as the Wenatchee Wild bounced back in Game 2 of their semifinal series.
After a scoreless first period, Wenatchee got on the board when Jacob Modry buried his first of the playoffs to give them a 1-0 lead after two. Gosiewski scored the insurance marker midway through the third and PJ Fletcher notched his eighth of the postseason into an empty net as the Wild held on for the win.
Park was the difference in net, earning his first shutout of the playoffs and a first-star honour. Wenatchee captain Lucas Sowder assisted on the empty-net goal and regained sole possession of the playoff scoring lead with his 21st point in 15 games.
On Saturday, the Wild stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game and force overtime, but the Vipers pulled it out 26 seconds into OT. Vipers defenceman Michael Young’s shot from the point deflected off a Wild stick and past Wenatchee goalie Cal Sandquist for a 4-3 win.
The best-of-seven heads to Vernon and Kal Tire Place for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the Island/Mainland final, the Prince George Spruce Kings exerted their post-season dominance taking a 3-0 series lead over Alex Newhook and the Victoria Grizzlies.
The Spruce Kings won back-to-back 4-2 games against the Grizzlies on the weekend, then went into Victoria on Monday and won Game 3 by the identical score. The victory put the Grizzlies firmly behind the eight-ball as the best-of-seven series goes to Game 4 on Wednesday in Victoria.