Adam Jeffery scored a pair in the third period as the Leamington Flyers beat the Strathroy Rockets 4-1 Sunday night at the Kinsmen Centre.
The top-seeded Flyers take a 2-1 lead over the number-eight Rockets in their best-of-seven GOJHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Michael Wood broke a scoreless tie late in the first period with a power-play goal, putting the Rockets up first. Just over two minutes later the Flyers evened the score at 1-1 thanks to a goal by Johnny Ulicny.
Leamington took the lead at 7:31 in the middle stanza, on a goal by Thomas Michaud. Jeffery's back-to-back goals in the third were scored within a space of four minutes.
Zach Borgiel stopped 26 shots out of 27 in the crease for the Flyers. Vince Michelizzi took the loss in goal for the Rockets, with 47 saves.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in Strathroy.
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The LaSalle Vipers pulled out of a first-period deadlock to beat the Sarnia Legionnaires 5-2 at Sarnia Arena.
LaSalle now takes a commanding 3-0 lead in their Western Conference quarterfinal series and can go for the sweep at home on Wednesday night.
The Vipers put up a quick 2-0 lead within the first six minutes of play, with goals on the power play. Brett Vorshuk opened the scoring, then Kory Silverio followed suit. The Legionnaires, in a must-win game, came back with a pair of goals to even the score before the first intermission. Ryan Barwitzki put Sarnia on the board, then Blake Butler tied it up on the power play.
The game remained tied at a deuce apiece until Dylan Robinson scored the only goal of the middle period, for a 3-2 Vipers lead. LaSalle added goals in the third from Abdul Abouzeeni and Spencer Paradis.
Will Tragge had 32 saves between the pipes for the Vipers. Jakob Knowles stopped 36 shots for Sarnia.
The Legionnaires will try to avoid the brooms Wednesday at the Vollmer Complex. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
