It's a best-of-three series now.
The Vernon Vipers have tied the Doyle Cup at two games apiece with the Spruce Grove Saints after a 3-1 win Wednesday night at Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove.
Seemingly at a loss as to how to generate offence and get pucks to the net after Sunday's 5-2 loss in Vernon, the Vipers executed a textbook road game, scoring a goal in each period and limiting the Saints to three shots in the third period on their way to the Game 4 triumph.
Vernon defenceman Adam Thompson opened the scoring with just seven ticks remaining in the first period on a power-play tally for his first of the Doyle Cup.
Kirby Halcrow held the fort in the opening frame for the Vipers as he stopped all 14 shots he saw while the Snakes found their footing. They had just five shots on Vince Marozzi in the first 20 minutes.
The visitors went up a pair midway through the second when rookie Trevor Fitzgerald scored his first of the Doyle Cup. In the third, Vernon made it 3-0 on Michael Zalewski's unassisted effort.
Spruce Grove was able to spoil Halcrow's bid for a shutout with just over half-a-minute remaining. Brett Switzer scored a power-play goal at 19:28 as Aaron Hadley was in the box, having received an additional penalty after a scrum where the Saints' Nicholas Bourgeois and Vernon's Fitzgerald were cited for roughing.
Final shots on goal were 22-20 in favour of the home side. Halcrow earned 1st Star honours.
Game 5 is Thursday in Spruce Grove at 6 p.m. Pacific time.
