The Silverbacks (22-23-1-3) have won seven straight as they host the Penticton Vees (31-10-3-2) tonight (Saturday) at 7pm. Salmon Arm got by the West Kelowna Warriors (24-23-1-1) 5-4 last night (Friday) at the Shaw Centre.
The visitors gave the home team the first power-play of the game at 1:47 of the first. And Brandon Whistle opened the scoring with the man-advantage at 2:21, 1-0 Silverbacks with Whistle’s fourth of the season and fourth in the past two games. West-K responded quickly with back-to-back goals at 2:43 and 5:10, 2-1 Warriors.
Salmon Arm went back to the power-play at 6:04. Rhett Kingston tied the game 2-2 with his 22nd at 12:34. The Warriors went back to the box at 12:54 and Hudson Schandor capitalized with the man-advantage, 3-2 Silverbacks with Schandor’s seventh. The two teams then traded penalties to the finish the first. West Kelowna went to the box at 13:50, Tanner Campbell was called for hooking at 14:37, West-K gave the Silverbacks their fifth power-play of the first at 15:34, and Justin Wilson finished the period with a slashing penalty at 18:29.
Salmon Arm lead 14-13 on the shot clock and 3-2 Silverbacks after 20 minutes.
The Warriors tied the game 3-3 just 1:01 into the second. Schandor potted his second of the game and eighth of the season at 2:28, 4-3 Salmon Arm. West Kelowna tied the game 4-4 at 5:56. The Silverbacks then took two straight penalties, Max Wutzke for slashing at 9:15 and Sol Seibel for roughing at 13:50. West-K finished the middle period with a penalty at 16:42.
Each team had 12 shots in the second, 26-25 Salmon Arm overall.
The Warriors took the lone penalty of the third at 16:42. And Trevor Adams scored the lone goal of the final frame at 10:44 which held up as the game winner and the 13th of the season for Adams, 5-4 Silverbacks.
Salmon Arm outshot West Kelowna 16-13 in the third and 42-38 Silverbacks total. Kyle Dumba made 34 saves, his eighth win of the season.
The Silverbacks finished 2-for-7 on the power-play and 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill. Austin Chorney remains out of action with an illness and Joe Leahy sat out again with injury. Penticton won 3-2 at the Merritt Centennials (18-24-1-4) on Friday. The Vees finished January with a record of 9-1-1-0.
Former Silverbacks Marcus Mitchell returns to Salmon Arm after being dealt to the Vees last month in exchange for Leahy. Mitchell has four goals and two assists in seven games with the Vees, and a total of 12 goals and six assists including his 19 games as a Silverback.
Home game tickets are $14, (Srs $12, Under 12 – $7). A $25 family pack includes includes 2 Adults and 2 Children’s tickets, along with 4 complimentary Silverbacks hats.
Each game is webcast PPV at hockeytv.com Road games are broadcast via voiceoftheshuswap.caCKVS 93.7 FM and Home games are available, audio only at mixlr.com/salmon-arm-silverbacks
