KENSINGTON – Luke Oliver continued to shine in goal for the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings on Wednesday afternoon.
Oliver, who sports an 11-0-0 (won-lost-overtime losses) record, along with an Island Junior Hockey League-best 1.91 goals-against average and .938 save percentage, stopped 35 of 36 shots in backstopping the Red Wings to a 4-1 decision over the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers in the opening game of a home-and-home series. The two arch-rivals will renew acquaintances at the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.
Winning streak
The first-place Red Wings, who have won 11 straight games, extended their lead over the second-place Vipers to 10 points with the win. Western is 16-3-0 while the Vipers, who have played two fewer games, dropped to 11-6-0.
Before a big crowd at Credit Union Centre in Kensington, the Vipers outshot the Red Wings 15-11 in a scoreless first period. An unassisted goal by Evan Millman at 11:59 of the middle frame gave Western a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Isaac Knox (1-2), Chandler Wood (1-1) and affiliated player Carter Cahill scored third-period goals for the Red Wings. Alex Morrissey and Isaac Callaghan added assists.
Jonathan Arsenault, assisted by Dallen Bulger and Parker Ronahan, netted Kensington’s lone goal.
Cameron Visser allowed three goals on 30 shots in Kensington’s net.
The Red Wings were assessed five of the game’s nine minor penalties. Each team received one 10-minute misconduct.