The LaSalle Vipers topped the Chatham Maroons 7-4 in Game 5 to take the lead in their playoff series on Wednesday.
In a back and forth first period, Hayden Johnston scored for LaSalle 11:03 into the game, but Grant Spence tied things up for Chatham just under a minute later. Eric Kirby added another goal for the Vipers with over eight minutes left in the first, but Thomas Michaud scored a goal for the Maroons late in the frame to tie things up once again heading into the second.
Chatham jumped ahead early in the second with a 4-2 lead thanks to goals by Bryce Yetman and Steven Fowler. However, Evan Ferguson, Cory Allen, Abdul Abouzeeni and Manny Silverio all scored back-to-back goals for LaSalle to give them a 6-4 advantage.
Jack Bowler capped off the win for LaSalle with one final goal late in the third.
"They made an adjustment [in the second] and we had to make another adjustment, but by then they've scored a couple of goals and we couldn't regroup. It all happened so fast in the second period," says Maroons Head Coach Ron Horvat.
The Vipers now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
The Maroons will look to stave off elimination in Game 6 against the Vipers on Thursday. The puck drops at 7pm in Chatham.