The Silverbacks (13-4-2-1) visit the Chilliwack Chiefs (11-5-1-2) today for a 5p.m. opening face-off in the Fraser Valley.
The ‘Backs won their 13th game of the season last night (Saturday), 3-2 over the Langley Rivermen (12-8) in Langley. The Silverbacks now have back-to-back road wins and now 9-and-2 away from the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, after knocking off the Surrey Eagles (4-16) 3-2 on Friday night in South Surrey.
Former Langley Rivermen Chase Zieky scored all three goals on Saturday in Langley, and now has eight goals in 17 games to start this season.
Zieky opened the scoring with his sixth of the season, assisted by Carson Bolduc at 9:36 of period one.
The ‘Backs lead 1-0 after 20 minutes and outshot the Rivermen 16-4 in period one.
Zieky’s seventh at 2:16 of period two increased the lead, a power-play marker from Nick Hutchison.
Mathew Graham’s 11th cut the ‘Backs lead in half and got Langley on the board at 10:30.
The Silverbacks outshot the home team 12-6 in the middle frame and lead 2-1 into the third.
Torrin White’s third tied the game 2-2 and unassisted at 7:27.
But 42 seconds later, 3-2 Silverbacks as Zieky scored his third of the night and eighth of the season at 8:09 from Hutchison.
Langley outshot the Silverbacks 16-4 in the final period, with the ‘Backs finishing ahead 32-26 overall on the shot clock.
Angus Redmond stopped 24 of 26 shots for his 10th victory in his final BCHL season, and in his hometown of Langley.
The Silverbacks finished 1-for-4 on the power-play and 3-for-4 on the penalty-kill.
Today will be the second and final regular season meeting with the Chiefs, after the two teams played to a 4-4 tie on Sunday, September 20th in Salmon Arm.
The Chiefs are 7-and-2 at home and won their fifth consecutive game on Friday night versus the Rivermen, 4-2 in Chilliwack. The Chiefs are 1-4-1-0 in six games versus the Interior Division. The Silverbacks are 3-2-2-0 in seven games versus Mainland Division opponents.
The Silverbacks have scored 83 goals in 20 games, the second highest goal total in the BCHL behind the Penticton Vees (19-1). The Chiefs have 71 goals for and sit sixth.
The ‘Backs have allowed the fourth fewest amount of goals with 55. Chilliwack has allowed 51, the third least goals against in the BCHL.
Vimal Sukumaran leads the Chiefs in scoring with 14 goals and 11 assists in 19 games. Nick Hutchison leads the Silverbacks with 10 goals, 15 assists in 20 games.
The Silverbacks will return to Salmon Arm tonight and prepare for three consecutive games at home at the Shaw Centre. The ‘Backs will begin parents weekend on Friday, November 13th at home to the Merritt Centennials (7-14-0-1) at 7p.m., and Saturday, November 14th at home versus the West Kelowna Warriors (11-6) at 7p.m.
Each Silverbacks and BCHL game is webcast live, PPV http://bchl.fasthockey.com as well as each ‘Backs road game is broadcast live at CKVS 93.7 FM http://voiceoftheshuswap.ca Each home game is broadcast at http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 Tune into CKVS each Monday night throughout the season beginning at 7p.m. for 30 minutes or more of Silverbacks talk, including interviews and news from around the BCHL.
