Vipers hang on, thrilling series now tied 2-2

RED DEER – We got ourselves a series.

Two, first-period markers off the stick of Spencer Yeats paced the Red Deer Vipers to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Airdrie Thunder on Saturday night, evening up their best-of-seven North Division semifinal series at two- games apiece.

Yeats opened the scoring at the midway mark of the first period and then made it a two-goal game with 3:21 remaining in the frame.

Tristyn Zarubiak gave Red Deer a 3-0 lead midway through the second period.

Branden Bilodeau finished the night with 35 saves and was perfect until the Thunder were able to solve him with 2:17 left in the game when Jaren Bainbridge gave Airdrie some life.

Clay Murray then cut the lead down to just one on a penalty shot with 37 seconds remaining, but that would be as close as the Thunder would get.

Joel Lepper made 33 saves in the loss.

The pivotal Game 5 goes down Tuesday night in Airdrie. Puck drop at the Ron Ebbesen Arena goes at 8:00pm.

GAME SUMMARY