A big start by the LaSalle Vipers led them to a 6-2 win over the first-place London Nationals Sunday afternoon at the Vollmer Complex.
London remains with 57 points atop the GOJHL Western Conference standings, while LaSalle is in fifth place with 41 points.
The Vipers came out swinging with three goals in the first period. Stephane Crevier scored first at 14:13, followed later by Jack Bowler's goal and Kory Silverio's power-play score. The Nationals pulled goaltender Eric Schneider after the frame and replaced him with Jukka Schotter.
LaSalle added a goal in the second period when Bowler scored again, this time short-handed. The Nationals began the third period with back-to-back goals to get on the board, from Max Vinogradov and Wes Dobbin. Schotter was pulled from the Nationals' goal for the extra attacker, but the Vipers scored two empty-netters, from Colten Krzeminski and A.J. Ryan.
Will Tragge stopped 28 shots out of 30 attempts in net for the Vipers. Schotter and Schneider combined for 21 saves.
Both teams are back in action Wednesday night. The Nationals welcome Sarnia, while LaSalle hosts St. Marys.
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The Amherstburg Integrity Admirals also had a big beginning, ending with a 5-1 win over the Wheatley Omstead Sharks at the Libro Centre.
It was the regular-season finale for Amherstburg, who finish with 59 points and for the time being, are in second place in the PJHL Stobbs Division. The Sharks are in seventh place with 25 points and two games to go.
Austin Jennings got the Addys on the board first with a power-play goal at 8:49 of the opening frame. Max Clifford scored later in the period to double the lead to 2-0 Amherstburg. Travis Campbell added to the Admirals' lead with the only goal of the second period.
Cory Burns extended to the lead once more in the middle of the third period before the Sharks finally got on the board. Mason Gow's unassisted goal averted the shutout. Christian McBride scored an empty-netter to seal the win for the Admirals.
Ben Larder stopped all but one of the 25 shots he faced between the pipes for Amherstburg. Tristan Edmondson also had 24 saves as goaltender for Wheatley.
The Sharks visit Dresden Monday night.
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Three players scoring two goals each accounted for the offence of the Blenheim Blades in their 6-4 win over the Mooretown Flags at home.
Blenheim is in sixth place in the Stobbs Division with 37 points. Mooretown closes out its regular season with 43 points, and for the moment is in fifth place.
The Blades began the contest with two goals in the opening period. Cameron Symons scored the first one on the power play at 8:39, and Dede Cato followed suit later in the stanza.
Drew Marlatt made the score 3-0 Blenheim with a power-play goal early in the second frame. The rest of the period belonged to Mooretown though. Cameron Rambouts put the Flags on the board, followed by two straight goals from Kyle Smith to tie the game at 3-3 before the second intermission.
Nolan Farr's goal at 8:54 of the third period gave the Flags a 4-3 lead, but the Blades came back with three unanswered goals. In order, Symons, Marlatt and Cato each scored their second goals of the game.
Chris DeWulf was in goal for the Blades, stopping 29 shots. Adam Mino had 34 saves for the Flags.
The Blades next head to Essex Tuesday night, while the Flags await their first-round playoff opponent.
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The Komoka Kings saved their offence to the end in their 5-1 win over the Strathroy Rockets at West Middlesex Memorial Arena.
Komoka is in sixth place in the Western Conference with 38 points. Strathroy is right behind with 33 points.
Carson Perry's goal at 4:51 put Strathroy up 1-0. The Rockets outshot the Kings 16-12 in the first period. It didn't happen until late in the second period, but Komoka did tie the game at one-all when Dario Beljo scored.
The Kings exploded with four goals in the final period. Joel Mazzilli's power play goal turned out to be the game-winner. Joe Capirchio, Jacob Rochford and Dillon Ward also scored, in order, for Komoka.
Nathan Young had 44 stops out of 45 attampts in the crease for Komoka. Joshua Diamond had 31 saves for the Rockets.
The Kings host the Leamington Flyers on Tuesday night. Strathroy is next in Sarnia on Thursday.