CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The race for second place and home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs is heating up in the Island Junior Hockey League.
Colin Koughan and Nick Currie scored while goaltender Noah Laybolt was perfect on both attempts by the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers in leading the Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros to a 4-3 victory at the Cody Banks Arena on Wednesday night.
The win improved the Metros’ record to 11-11-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), good for a three-point lead over the third-place Vipers (9-9-2). Kensington, however, does hold three games-in-hand.
Keegan Mitchell, Barrington Duffy and Grant MacAdam scored regulation-time goals for the Metros. Currie, Cale Pierce, Emmett Lyons and Hunter Bradley chipped in with assists.
Tayler Read (1-2), Ryan Richards (1-1) and affiliated player Landon Clow (1-1) dented the twine for the Vipers. Morgan Darbyson added an assist.
The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period and the Metros took a 3-1 advantage into the final 20 minutes.
Overall, the Vipers outshot the Metros, including a 12-7 advantage in the third period.
Referees Curtis Hall and Jeff Affleck called five minors, one double minor for roughing, one 10-minute misconduct, two fighting majors, one game misconduct and one double-game misconduct against the Vipers. The Metros received six minors, one 10-minute misconduct, two fighting majors, one game misconduct and one double-game misconduct.
