The Strathroy Rockets had trouble finding ways to stop the LaSalle Vipers, which beat Rockets, 6-3.

The win by LaSalle broke a deadlock and gave the Vipers a 2-1 advantage in the best of seven series.

With four goals and three assists between them, Brendan McCann and Eric Noel teamed up to power LaSalle's offense. McCann tallied two goals and two assists and Noel also notched two goals and one assist.

Strathroy's power play was ineffective against the Vipers' penalty kill, which allowed one goal while shorthanded.

LaSalle's offense rang up 43 shots on the Rockets' net.

LaSalle additionally got points from Blake Jones, who also registered one goal and one assist, Dylan Denomme, who also racked up one goal and two assists, and Noel, who also had two goals and one assist. Other players who recorded assists for LaSalle were Chad Shepley, Chris Pignanelli, Ben Hanus, and Scott Prier, who each chipped in one.

Strathroy was led by Stuart King, who tallied two goals. King scored the first of his two goals at 8:40 into the first period to make the score 2-1 LaSalle. Mike Mandarelli picked up the assist. King's next tally made the score 2-2 with 2:30 left in the first period. A head contact penalty on Spencer VanBuskirk had put the Rockets on the power play. Blake O`Neill assisted on the tally. Adam Vandersluis also scored for Strathroy. In addition, Strathroy received assists from Shawn Grogan and Tyler Coleman, who contributed one a piece.

The Vipers' Taylor Speed stopped 24 shots out of the 27 that he faced. LaSalle totaled 37 minutes in penalty time with six minors and one major and went 2-for-5 on the power play. For the Vipers, VanBuskirk was ejected from the game. Dalen Kuchmey made 37 saves for Strathroy on 42 shots. The Rockets ended with 25 minutes in penalty time with five minors and one major. Strathroy ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Jordan DaSilva was ejected from the game.