Bird the word as Vikes stage comeback to topple Eastern in OT

Kyle Bird scored the game winner with 3:21 remaining in overtime as the University of Victoria snapped a seven-game losing skid with a 4-3 road win over Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

The OT winner capped a Vikes comeback after the visitors found themselves down 3-1 heading into the third period. Brandon Volpe had put UVic ahead early, but Jacob Loman, Beau Walker and Kyle Blondin all scored for Eastern in the second period to go up by two.

Logan Nachtegaele brought Victoria within one midway through the third and Volpe scored the equalizer with three minutes remaining on a Vikes power play. Jack Palmer assisted on both of Volpe's tallies, as well as Bird's winner.

Alec Dillon picked up the win in net, turning aside 41 shots for his second victory of the season. Austin Brihn faced 56 shots in the loss.

With the win, UVic closed the gap on Vancouver Island University to five points in the chase for the BCIHL's fourth and final playoff position.The Eagles, meanwhile, sit two points back of the Vikes in sixth.

Victoria will close out the semester on Friday night when Selkirk College visits the Ian Stewart Complex, while the Eagles are done until 2018. They will open the second half of the season at home to TWU on January 5th.