WINGER Jeff Hutchins marked his return to action with a goal and two assists as the Vipers achieved a rare away win. Rob Wilson’s team took command of the game by scoring two goals in as many minutes during the middle period. With the Bison two men short, Vipers captain David Longstaff made it 2-1 when he pounced on the loose puck to score, after netminder Curtis Cruickshank could only block a shot on 32 minutes. Very quickly it became 3-1 as the Vipers capitalised on another rebound off Cruickshank with Shaun Johnston this time the successful predator. As the game neared its conclusion the Bison withdrew Cruickshank as they had to, but their sixth skater gamble failed. With little left on the game clock the speedy Colin Shields won the race to the puck which had been hit down the ice, before placing it in the unguarded goal and put further gloss on victory. The win was the Vipers’ first on the road since December 12, a 2-1 victory against the Hull Stingrays, and sets the team up nicely for its stiff challenge tonight. The Vipers travelled south for the first of their two away games this weekend without their two latest signings. It was hoped that defenceman Burt Henderson and Corey Morgan would feature, but in Henderson’s case the necessary work permit was not stamped in time for him to make his debut. Henderson is likely to join the team this week and see action for the first time at the weekend. As for Morgan it has been reported that he is now stalling on re-joining the Vipers for a third time. At the end of the first period last night the teams left the ice tied at one goal apiece. British forward Greg Wood doesn’t score many goals and he hit his fourth in 41 games for the Bison by firing through goalie Ryan McDonald’s legs from between the face off circles on nine minutes. The Vipers hit back instantly, the home side’s lead lasting just 24 seconds. Playing his first competitive game since mid-December when he was side lined with a hernia, Hutchins drove at the net before forcing the puck across the goalline. It was the winger’s eighth goal of an injury-disrupt season and his first since scoring against Nottingham Panthers in late November. Vipers’ man-of-the-match was McDonald who faced a 55-shot barrage. This evening the Vipers square up to the Coventry Blaze, the Elite league’s top team and odds on favourite to win back-to-back championships, at the Skydome. Face-off is at 6pm. BISON: Woods 1+0; Campbell and Stewart 0+1. VIPERS: Hutchins 1+2; Longstaff 1+1; Johnson and Shields 1+0; Storey 0+3; Jackson 0+1. | 
