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‘Backs Rally Against Rival Vipers

Landon Smith notched his league leading 28th and 29th goals on Saturday, and Assistant Captain Jeff Kennedy added a beautiful game-winning goal; as the SilverBacks stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Vernon Vipers by a score of 4-2.

The win puts Salmon Arm within four points of the 2nd Place Vipers in the Interior Division, with a Sunday game in Merritt ahead.

Salmon Arm came out on home ice and out-shot the Vipers by a count of 11-8 in the 1st , although the road Vipers were the ones who opened the scoring, as Liam Coughlin hit mesh from the slot, with assists going to Josh Bryan and Michael Blacklock. The Vipers got their second marker of the game at 18:30, as Demico Hannoun buried a one-timer from Vipers leading-scorer Michael McNicholas for a lead 2-0 after the 1st.

 

The score remained 2-0 for most of the 2nd, until Landon Smith cut the lead in half, with three minutes remaining in the Period, bringing the Teddy Bears to the ice at the Shaw Centre in front of an excited and lively crowd.

 

In the 3rd, Smith found his 29th goal, and 54th point, tying the game 2-2. Jeff Kennedy then grabbed the game-winner on a beautiful feed from Michael Roberts, making an amazing move to his back-hand for a 3-2 lead. Moments later, Bryden Marsh got the insurance goal to put his team up 4-2.

 
Adam Clark made 28 saves on 30 shots to get his 11th win, as the SilverBacks picked up their 18th win of the season.

The 'Backs quickly get ready for another big divisional game, as they travel to the Nicola Valley Arena on Sunday, to play the Merritt Centennials at 2pm in the first of two meetings at that building this week. Tune in on 93.7 Voice of the Shuswap, or online at www.mixlr.com/sasilverbacks for the call.