WEST KELOWNA, BC: Charles-Alexis Legault scored the game-winning goal with just under five minutes left in the third period, as the West Kelowna Warriors defeated the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 5-3.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks got off to an incredible start to this hockey game, as Nathan Mackie opened the scoring just 70 seconds into the contest. He picked up the puck from Brandon Santa Juana behind the net and quickly wrapped it into the net, catching the Warriors goaltender off guard. The goal was Mackie’s 5th of the campaign. Shortly after, the Silverbacks got a powerplay, as the Warriors were caught with too many men on the ice. The Silverbacks powerplay just lasted 19 seconds, though, as Captain Daniel Panetta was called for tripping. The Warriors would tie the game off a Marcus Joughin shot from the shot as it found it’s way through a screened Owen Say, tying the game at one. Zack Smith nearly took the lead back as he and Santa Juana had a 2 on 1, but Derrick denied Smith, keeping the game tied at 1-1. The Warriors took the lead late in the period as Evans got a pass from Charles-Alexis Legault and beat an outstretched Say for his 18th of the season. Both teams went 0/2 on the powerplay and the Silverbacks outshot the Warriors 9-8 in the opening twenty minutes.
In the middle frame, the Silverbacks got into some early penalty trouble. First, Noah Serdachny went off for tripping, then 1:14 later, Tucker Hartmann got the gate for boarding, putting the Backs down two men for 46 seconds. They actually killed both penalties off, but just as Hartmann stepped onto the ice, Christophe Farmer found Tyler Rubin streaking to the net, and he was able to roof it glove side past Say to double the Warriors lead. They nearly took a 4-1 lead as Tyler Cristall had a chance at the side of the goal, but Say denied him. The Silverbacks began to push back a bit, as the top line sustained some good offensive zone time, and it resulted in Simon Tassy having a chance in the slot, but he was turned aside by Derrick. The Backs’ persistence paid off as Brandon Santa Juana jammed the puck in past Derrick at the side to cut the lead in half for his 15th the of the season. The Silverbacks outshot the Warriors 15-9 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the game was there for the taking for the Backs as they entered the final frame down by a goal. It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort, as they tested Derrick ten times in the third, 24 in the second and third combined. Santa Juana had a chance out front in the slot but was denied in tight. Neither team took penalties in the third period. The Warriors got a big insurance goal with just under five minutes left as Legault skated into the offensive zone, and his shot fooled Owen Say and beat him under the blocker to double the lead again. The Warriors added an empty netter late to make it 5-2. Aidan Lindblad cut the lead to 5-3 with just over a minute left. It was his 6th of the year and fourth in his last seven games. However, that would be the closest the Silverbacks would come, as The Warriors held on for a 5-3 win. This is only the second regulation loss of the season on the road for the Silverbacks. They will continue this three-game road trip tomorrow night in Prince George.
