Salmon Arm, BC – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks (6-4-0-1) got back in action on Friday night when they welcomed the Cranbrook Bucks (7-3-1-0) to town for the first time this season. The interior division opponents will meet up five times over the course of the 2022/23 BCHL Regular Season. The Silverbacks had points in four straight games coming into tonight, and were looking to bounce back following their shootout loss to the Langley Rivermen last week. While the Cranbrook Bucks are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Penticton Vees on Wednesday night.
Matthew Tovell (5-3-0-1, 2.69 GAA, 0.918 S%) got his tenth start of the season for the Silverbacks, while Nathan Airey (5-3-0-1, 2.98 GAA, .914 S%) got the start for the Bucks.
The game started off with a delayed start as a pane of glass was broken during the warmup which made the teams sit for a few extra minutes. Following the delayed start, it was the Silverbacks taking an early penalty, but they were able to kill it off on a few big saves from Matthew Tovell. Midway through the period, it was Aidan Lindblad (1) opening the scoring as the Silverbacks were able to capitalize on a three on one. Late in the period the Silverbacks were able to extend their lead to two when Owen Beckner (7) was able to beat Nathan Airey on the odd man rush. The Silverbacks took the two goal lead into the intermission, but the Bucks outshot the ‘Backs 15-10 in the first frame.
The pace of play changed in the middle frame as both sides amped up the physicality. Both teams had an opportunity on the man advantage but both goaltenders were able to stand tall and keep the man advantage units scoreless. The lone goal of the period came late in the frame when Kellan Hjartarson (4) deflected one out of mid air to beat Tovell. The goal brought the Bucks within one after forty minutes of play. The shots in the middle frame were 11-6 in favor of the Bucks.
The final period was a shooting range for the Bucks as they fired 17 shots towards the Silverbacks net, but Matthew Tovell was able to stop all 17 in the final frame. The lone penalty of the period went to Brandon Santa Juana, but the Bucks were not able to capitalize on the man advantage. The Bucks ended up pulling their goalie for an extra attacker with just over 70 seconds to go, but weren’t able to beat Tovell. The Silverbacks ended up taking down the Bucks by a final score of 2-1.
The Silverbacks will get right back into action tomorrow night as they travel down Highway 97 into West Kelowna to take on the Warriors. Puck drop will be at 7:00PM, and you can catch all the action on Hockey TV!
