Two first-period goals were enough as the Vernon Vipers beat the Cowichan Valley Capitals 2-1 in B.C. Hockey League action Sunday afternoon before 1,576 fans at Kal Tire Place.
All of the scoring took place in a 6:14 span in the opening period.
Goals from Steven Jandric (team-leading 11th) and Brett Stapley (third) for the Vipers were sandwiched around a wraparound effort from Rhett Kingston (ninth) for the Capitals.
The goalies took over in the third period with Cowichan Valley’s Lane Michasiw sliding over to his right to rob Vernon’s Austin Adamson with six minutes left to keep it a one-goal game.
Ty Taylor made back-to-back saves on Kingston and Max Newton with four minutes remaining, then stopped Kingston in the dying seconds off a face-off in Vernon territory.
The rebound on the shot went right to Newton, who fired high over the net. The puck came into the crease and was sitting loose but the Capitals could not get it past Taylor.
Vernon outshot Cowichan Valley 32-27.