WENATCHEE, WA: Quinn Emerson scored a pair of goals in the third period to complete the hat-trick as the Wenatchee Wild defeated the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 5-1 in Game 6 to force a Game 7 Monday Night in Salmon Arm.
The opening period of Game 6 was tightly checked and fast-paced to begin with little whistles. For the fourth time in the sixth game, the Wenatchee Wild opened the scoring, as Parker Murray was able to beat Owen Say short side 4:19 into the hockey game. In the opening frame, there were zero penalties as we played 5 on 5 the whole twenty minutes. The Silverbacks began to take control of the first period midway through with multiple shifts consecutive inside the Wild zone but could not convert. The Silverbacks tied the game late in the first period, and it was the rookie forward Isaac Lambert making a patient play outwaiting the Wild goaltender Tyler Shea and roofing it up and under the bar to tie the game at one. It was Lambert’s second of the postseason. Simon Tassy and Noah Serdachny picked up assists on the marker. Owen Say stopped 14 of 15 shots he faced in the first period. The Wild outshot the Silverbacks 15-11 in the opening twenty minutes.
The Silverbacks had multiple chances to take the lead in the middle frame. First defenceman Mike Ladyman created some space for himself at the blueline and skated into the top of the circle but was denied by Shea. Shortly after that, the topline put in some work down low, resulting in Serdachny and Tassy getting opportunities, but the game remained scoreless. The Wild and Silverbacks both traded early powerplays as Lambert went off for hooking and Brett Oberle for holding shortly after; neither team was able to convert. The Wild got another powerplay with 4:58 left in the period when Zack Smith went off for slashing. The Silverbacks penalty kill was excellent. As a matter of fact, they had the best opportunity. Serdachny made a deke through the legs of the Wild defender and took it to the backhand, but Shea stuck with him, keeping it 1-1. Then with 8 seconds left in the middle frame, Smith was called for a pick play off the faceoff, putting the Wild on their third powerplay of the evening. The Backs outshot the Wild 18-12 in the second period.
In the third period, the Silverbacks began the first 1:52 of it shorthanded, and the Wild took advantage as Cade Littler was able to beat Say glove side to give the Wild a 2-1 lead 49 seconds into the final frame. Then moments later, the Silverbacks took another penalty, this time, Daniel Panetta was called for hooking, putting the Wild on their 4th powerplay. Quinn Emerson was credited with a goal as it went in past Say off the stick of Serdachny, doubling their lead. Emerson wasn’t done there 1:51 later, and he potted another one past Say five-hole, extending the lead to three. The Silverbacks pulled the goalie with 7:58 left, and Emerson was hauled down on a breakaway by Hartmann, resulting in an automatic goal for the hat-trick. The Wenatchee Wild forced a Game 7 with the win. Game 7 will be played Monday night in Salmon Arm. Puck drop is 6:00 PM.
