KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — The race is on for second place and home-ice advantage in the opening round of the Island Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers defeated the league-leading Arsenault's Fish Mart Western Red Wings 6-2 on Saturday night to move into a second-place tie with the Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros.
That result left the Vipers at 13-14-3 (won-lost-overtime losses) and the Metros are 13-15-2 entering the first of back-to-back games in Kensington on Sunday at 7 p.m. The teams will also play at Credit Union Centre on Monday at 8:30 p.m.
The Red Wings (26-3-2), who have clinched first place and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, are scheduled to host the Montague-based Hynes Paving Maniacs (7-22-2) at the Evangeline Recreation Centre in a semifinal series preview on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.
Two goals
At Credit Union Centre in Kensington, Dylan Wheatley scored twice while Kyle McGuigan had a goal and an assist to lead the Vipers. Tyler Gallant, Ryan Richards and Brett Ballum also dented the twine for Kensington, which received two assists from Riley Gallant.
Isaac Knox (1-1) and Alex Hutchinson answered for the Red Wings.
Kensington led 2-0 after one period and extended that margin to 4-1 following 40 minutes.
Winning goaltender Josh Smith stopped 33 of 35 shots. Cole Gallant made 31 saves on 37 shots for the Red Wings.
