SALMON ARM, BC: The West Kelowna Warriors erased a 3-1 deficit as they defeated the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6-3 in Game 5 to move on in the Shaw BCHL Playoffs.
In the first period of Game 5, The Silverbacks got off to a good start in terms of pace. The first best chance went to the Silverbacks as Noah Serdachny had a chance at the side of the net, but Johnny Derrick stopped him with the right toe. Shortly after an offensive zone faceoff win by Nathan Mackie, the puck went to Mat Bourgault in front, and he was stopped by the left pad of Derrick, keeping it scoreless. The Silverbacks got a powerplay after Elan Bar-Lev-Wise dangerously hit Backs defenceman, Lucas Matta hard into the boards. Matta stayed down for quite some time but left with the help of trainer Les Cleverly. The Refs huddled and talked about it but called a two-minute boarding call. The Silverbacks immediately took advantage as Daniel Panetta tipped home the Brandon Santa Juana shot to open the scoring. It was Panetta’s second goal in as many games and his 7th of the playoffs. The Warriors then got their first powerplay when Mathieu Cobetto-Roy was called for a retaliatory cross-checking penalty. The Warriors, like the Silverbacks, cashed in on their first man advantage. Tyler Cristall controlled the puck below the goal line and centred out front to Chase Dafoe, who was able to beat Say, tying the game at 1. The Silverbacks continued to attack offensively and were again rewarded. Isaac Lambert forced a turnover in the neutral zone and took the puck hard to the net. The first shot was stopped, but he stuck with it and was able to beat Derrick on the rebound, giving the Silverbacks a 2-1 lead. It was Lambert’s 4th of the playoffs. The Warriors outshot the Backs 13-9 in the first period.
In the middle frame, the Silverbacks got the start they were looking for. Again, it was the top line of Serdachny, Smith and Santa Juana capitalizing on a 3 on 2 rush. Santa Juana fed it backdoor to Serdachny, who tapped home his 6th of the playoffs, doubling the Silverbacks lead. The Silverbacks looked to be in control of the game until suddenly, they turned over the puck in the neutral zone, and Christophe Farmer dashed in on a breakaway. He was hauled down by defenceman Mike Ladyman and was rewarded a penalty shot. Farmer came in very slow out to the right and beat Say under the glove, cutting the lead to one. Farmer added another shortly after on another Silverbacks turnover as he beat Say glove side again, tying the game at three. The Warriors outshot the Silverbacks 15-4 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Silverbacks and Warriors were tied until past the midway point of the third period. After he hit Riley Sharun in front of the Silverbacks bench, Santa Juana was called for boarding. The Warriors just needed 22 seconds to strike on the powerplay. Felix Trudeau made a cross ice pass to Bar-Lev-Wise, and he beat the outstretched Say to give the Warriors their first lead of the hockey game. The Warriors would add two more into the empty net and take the game 6-3. With the loss,
Unfortunately, our season comes to an end tonight. Thank you to the best fans in the BCHL for the support all season long.
