SALMON ARM, BC– The Cranbrook Bucks scored two goals on five shots in the third period, as they went on to defeat the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-0 on home ice and hand the Backs their first regulation loss of the season.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks welcomed the Cranbrook Bucks to the Shawa Centre for the team’s first-ever meeting. The Backs got a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when Jarrod Smith went off for boarding, as he hit Backs forward Brandon Santa Juana in the numbers. However, they could not convert despite spending most of the two minutes of the powerplay in the Bucks zone. Bucks starting goaltender Evan Gartner was sharp early, keeping it scoreless. The Silverbacks got three powerplays in the opening twenty minutes going 0/3 with two shots. The Bucks got two of their own, also unable to capitalize. The Backs found the scoresheet very late in the opening period, 17 seconds left to be exact, when defenceman Cameron Kungle came down the left wing and snapped a shot over the right shoulder of Say, it was Kungle’s second of the season. The Bucks outshot Salmon Arm 9-6 in the first period.
The middle frame was a fast-paced period that saw zero penalties and lots of back and forth action. Own Say had to be sharp early as the Bucks had the first five shots of the period. The Bucks doubled their lead when defenceman Camryn Good ripped a shot off the stick of forward Johnny Johnson, and he directed it over the shoulder of Say, making it 2-0. Then for the first time really all season, the lines were put into a blender. Isaac Lambert was one of the Silverback’s best forwards through two periods, resulting in a chance on the top line with Simon Tassy and Noah Serdachny. The Back’s best chance of the period came off the stick of rookie forward Ethan Ullrick, as he got a pass from defenceman Will Lavigne, but Ullrick was denied as Gartner flashed the leather keeping it 2-0 Cranbrook. The Bucks held a slim 24-20 advantage in the shot department after forty minutes.
The third period was the best one for the Silverbacks, outshooting the Bucks 15-5. The bad part, the Bucks cashed in on two of the five shots. First, Luke Pfoh shot one past Say to make it 3-0 three minutes into the frame. The Silverbacks got an abundance of scoring chances, as they received four powerplays in the final frame, but Gartner was equal to the task turning aside all 15 shots he saw, as he was a perfect 37/37 on the night for his first shutout of the season. The Bucks put it out of reach for good, a shorthanded goal off the stick of Johnson, his second of the night, making it 4-0 Bucks.
This is the first regulation loss for the Backs, and it sees their seven-game losing streak come to an end, as they fall to 9-1-1 on the season. The two teams will do it again tomorrow afternoon for a four o’clock matinee. Tomorrow afternoon is the annual SASCU Skate with the Backs following the game, don’t forget to bring your helmets and skates.
