HJHL Roundup: Vipers win OT thriller to extend streak

The Vipers extended their winning streak to four games after an overtime thriller on Tuesday.

Red Deer (6) vs. Blackfalds (5)

BLACKFALDS – Declan Johnston scored 1:15 into overtime, propelling the Red Deer Vipers to their fourth straight victory with a thrilling 6-5 win over the Blackfalds Wranglers on Tuesday evening.

Johnston, along with teammates Logan Linnell and Mack Differenz each finished with a goal and assist for the Vipers (22-5-1), which held a 4-1 lead early in the second period before the Wranglers (16-11-1) stormed back to knot the score at four after 40 minutes.

Differenz put the Vipers up 5-4 with a power-play marker coming with 2:08 remaining in the final frame, however Braden Olsen would force overtime for the Wranglers, finding the back of the net with just 21 seconds left on the clock.

Austin Thorpe, Keagan Kingwell and Aidan Wilson rounded out the Red Deer scoring, while Branden Bilodeau picked up the win between the pipes, stopping 27 shots on the night.

Landon Siegle, Shawn Rowe, Riley Mathies and Dylan Scheunert each added a single for the Wranglers, which got 34 saves from goaltender Rylan Bardick.

GAME SUMMARY