Ryan Vendramin scored a hat-trick, and Brandon Layman added a goal and three assists, as the Sarnia Legionnaires downed the LaSalle Vipers 8-5 in GOJHL playoff action Tuesday at Sarnia Arena.
The first round best-of-seven series is now knotted at two wins apiece.
After a scoreless opening frame, Manny Silverio made it 1-0 Vipers on a goal just 1:32 into the second.
Vendramin tied the game with a powerplay goal at the 13:07 mark on a tip-in off a Brett Storr point shot. Sarnia's Brendan Shagena made it 2-1 at 16:44 on a two on one cross ice feed from Joey Zappa. Vendramin picked off a Brett Banwell pass just 14 seconds later and made a nice deke to put the Legionnaires ahead 3-1. Vipers goalie Eli Billing was then removed from the game in favour of Paolo Battisti.
The two teams combined for nine goals in a wild third period including tallies from Vendramin, Alec DeKoning, Ryan Trottier, Brandon Layman, and Joey Zappa.
Brett Primeau led the way for LaSalle with two goals and an assist, while Tyler Russell dished out three helpers.
The Legionnaires went 2/6 on the powerplay while the Vipers capitalized on four of seven chances.
The two teams will square off Wednesday night at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle for game five of the series. You can hear all of the action live on CHOK beginning at 7pm.
