Troy Klaus tipped in Kolton Gillett’s pass with 27 seconds remaining in overtime Monday to give the Red Deer Vipers a 5-4 Heritage Junior B Hockey League playoff win over the host Airdrie Thunder.
With the victory, the Vipers took the best-of-seven Northern Division semifinal 4-2 and will meet the Blackfalds Wranglers in the final. Klaus also netted a regulation-time goal for the Vipers, who got additional markers from Braden Corbett, Nick Glackin and Jeff Kohut. Winning netminder Brenden Mandrusiak stopped 45 shots.
The best-of-seven Northern Division final will open Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Blackfalds. The second and third games are scheduled for Saturday at the Arena (8 p.m. start) and Sunday in Blackfalds (3:30 p.m.).