Mat Robson made 33 saves and Grant Cruikshank scored twice to help the Penticton Vees to a 4-2 road win over the Vernon Vipers in Game 3 of the Interior finals, putting the Vees ahead 2-1 in the series.
Cruikshank opened the scoring in the first, unassisted on the power play and Taylor Sanheim made it 2-0 just 1:16 later. Niko Karamanis got the Vipers on the board early in the second on the man advantage but Ty Amonte replied with his first of the postseason just past the midway point of the middle frame.
Vernon got back within one on a Steven Jandric goal which made the score 3-2 Vees heading to the third. The outcome remained in question for most of the final frame until Cruikshank scored into an empty net to seal the final score. Game 4 goes Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Vernon.
