LAST WEEK:

Friday - won 6-3 vs. Aurora Tigers; Monday - lost 5-1 vs. Oakville Blades; Tuesday - won 5-4 vs. Buffalo Jr. Sabres. Vipers now 12 wins, one overtime win; nine losses and one shootout loss, 27 points. Tied for fifth place in MacKinnon Division.

COMING UP:

Friday at Milton Icehawks, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at Streetsville Derbys, 7:25 p.m.; Monday vs. Couchiching Terriers at Al Palladini Community Centre, 7:15 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

Despite having a three-game winning streak snapped Monday in a 5-1 loss to the visiting and co-MacKinnon Division-leading Oakville Blades, the Vipers exhibited some character when they travelled to Buffalo Tuesday and skated off with a 5-4 come-from-behind win against the Junior Sabres.

Encountering penalty problems in the first period, the Vipers surrendered two power-play goals to trail 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Penalties continued to plague the Vipers in the second period as Buffalo took advantage of one extra-strength opportunity to pad their lead to 3-1 entering the final stanza.

But the Vipers stormed back with four goals, including three from Dorian Peca, who amassed four in the game, and a power-play effort from Doug Clarkson.

Vipers’ goalie Wes Carr stopped 27 of 31 shots to help preserve the win.

In Monday’s loss, the Vipers remained in contention as they trailed 1-0 through the first 40 minutes.

After the Blades added some breathing room with a goal to start the third period, Peca delivered a power-play marker just past the midway point to cut the Vipers’ deficit to 2-1.

But the Vipers incurred the wrath of the referees Mike Neill and Glen McBryde as the Blades erupted with three unanswered power-play goals, including two five-on-three situations, to ice the game in a penalty-filled final 20 minutes.

The Blades outshot the Vipers 52-38. The Vipers entered Monday’s tilt after coming off a 6-3 road win over the Aurora Tigers last Friday.

With the score knotted at 1-1 through 20 minutes, the Vipers gained the upper hand in the second period on a shorthanded goal by Clarkson and even-strength tally by Mark Schiraldi to take a 3-2 lead entering the final frame.

During the final 20 minutes, Clarkson and Daniel Morello each delivered power-play goals and Peca notched an even-strength goal to round out the scoring.

Brandon Beadow accounted for the Vipers’ first goal in the opening frame on a power play. Troy Passingham stopped 29 of 32 shots while the Vipers directed 42 on the Tigers’ net.

INSIDER:

The Vipers played Tuesday’s game without the services of defenceman Steven Pintaric, who was out with a minor injury.

Vipers’ head coach Jason Fortier expects him to be ready for Friday’s road game in Milton.

GENERALLY SPEAKING:

“Our discipline has got to get better. We have to stop taking selfish penalties,” Fortier said of the infractions his club incurred Monday and Tuesday. “In Monday’s game, I thought we had a few questionable calls that went against us and it was a continual process.

We’re a good penalty killing team and we’re not afraid to play aggressive. But, at times when you’re aggressive, you get calls going against you. To kill off two five-on-three’s against a talented team like Oakville, is a lot to ask as they took advantage of it.

“On Tuesday, we said the good news was that we were ready for what the officials would do against us. Except they were worse.”

As for what was said between the second and third period in Tuesday’s game that sparked a comeback, Fortier said his veteran players stepped up and showed plenty of character.

This, he feels, is an encouraging sign as his team attempts to move up the ladder in the MacKinnon Division.

“It just came down to pride and heart. I’ve known a lot of the players from the past and they’re gritty kids. They are willing to go through walls and they’re willing to do it for each other and the coaching staff.

“Right now we’ve played all of the teams we’ve faced tough. No team in the league scares us. When we’re on top of our game I feel we can play anyone. That’s encouraging,” he said.

For more on the Vipers, go to www.vaughanvipers.com

Got pics?

Hey fans, send us your jpegs of game action or fans in the stands and we’ll publish the best in an upcoming edition. Send your photos to editor Kim Champion at kchampion@yrmg.com or call 905-264-9453.