The Victoria Grizzlies are limping home after a tough three-games-in-three-days road trip.
A 3-2 loss in Vernon on Sunday afternoon marks just the second time this season that the Grizzlies lost a weekend series in which they played more than one game.
The road trip started on Friday with a 6-3 loss in Langley, followed by a 6-3 victory in Salmon Arm on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Grizzlies staked Vernon to a 3-0 lead as Dallas Calvin, Craig Martin and Colton Sparrow all tallied within 3:47 by the 14:56 mark of the opening period.
The first and third goals came via the power play as the Vipers out-shot the visiting Grizzlies 12-4 after 20 minutes at Wesbild Centre.
Turner Lawson and Pearce Eviston, both former Vipers, replied for Victoria to cut it to 3-2 after two periods of play, but the Grizzlies failed to come up with the equalizer as Mike Stiliadis suffered the loss in goal.
Victoria, now 32-11-0-6, out-shot Vernon 34-27.
The Grizzlies played without Myles Fitzgerald, who was injured Saturday night, and Blake Thompson, who went down on Friday evening.
Victoria returns home to face Alberni Valey on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.
Twitter/tc_vicsports