The shots on goal indicated a close game.  The scoreboard said otherwise.

The Red Deer Vipers trounced the Airdrie Thunder 7 - 1 last night (March 14) to take a three games to two lead in the Heritage Junior Hockey League's Northern Division Final.  The Vipers are now just a win away from advancing to the League Championship against the Coaldale Copperheads who edged Okotoks 5 - 4 in overtime last night to take the Southern best of seven in five games.

Things looked a lot closer than they turned out in the Airdrie - Red Deer game.  The Thunder actually held the advantage in shots on goal, 43 - 40.

Red Deer went two for five with a man advantage while the Thunder couldn't score on nine power plays.

Andre McLennan connected for the only goal of the night for Airdrie.  

The series has really defined the term, "home ice advantage" as all five games have been won by the home team.  

That should give the Thunder some comfort as the teams head back to Airdrie for tomorrow night's crucial sixth game which gets underway at 8:00 pm in the Ron Ebbesen Arena.

If a seventh game is necessary, it will be played Saturday night in Red Deer. 

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