The LaSalle Vipers were cruising in their first game back from the holiday break with a 3-0 lead over Strathroy heading into the third. Goaltender Tre Altiman faced 28 shots and was holding the fort down. "I think they did a good job of coming out strong tonight." said Vipers head coach Chad Shepley. "Couple of mental lapses that led to some good quality chances for them."
Those chances all came in the third as the Rockets fired 20 shots at Altiman. Nathan Schaap got the visitors going at 5:21 popping with a rip over Altiman's shoulders that popped the bottle. Mason Landry scored two more to send the game to overtime.
Ethan Facchina gave the visitors a one goal edge in the shootout. With the game on the line Connor Tucker came straight at Strathroy goaltender Colin Androlewicz and beat him low blocker to force sudden death.
"The nerves were getting to me but got it done. Tre came up with a huge save and then Nathan Gaymes to finish it off. It was huge. It got the boys fired up." Tucker said.
After an Altiman stop on Charlie Stucke, Nathan Gaymes went five hole on Androlewicz for the win. "Definitely a fun game." Altiman said after the win. "It was a great two points. Something good came out of it."
LaSalle improves to 21-8-1 and remain tied with London for first in the Western Conference after the Nationals beat St. Mary's 4-3 in overtime Wednesday night. LaSalle and London square off in a weekend back to back starting Saturday night at the Western Fair. They'll close out the weekend in LaSalle Sunday afternoon.
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