Friday night Salmon Arm had a final minute goal against Trail to tie the game, but couldn’t find the same magic on Saturday.
Without a goal Friday, the second game of the doubleheader saw two Trail shots find the back of the net. Playing in his third BCHL game, AP callup Paul Leroux deflected a point shot from Luke Gallagher for the opening tally six minutes in. Six minutes later on their first power play of the game, Trevor Zins had his shot from the top of the right circle find the back of the net just six seconds into the man advantage. A minute later an Akito Hirose point shot rebounded out to John Little, but he was robbed by the glove of Donovan Buskey making his second start in the BCHL since being acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders.
Eleven seconds into the second period, Mack Byers gave Trail a 3-0 lead on a sharp angled shot from the right side. Little would get another chance moments later but couldn’t get Salmon Arm on the board.
Four minutes into the frame Salmon Arm would finally beat Buskey on their first power play of the game. From the right faceoff circle, Matthew Verboon unleashed a shot to continue his hot play since returning from the World Juniors. With an assist later in the game, he now has 13 points in the last eight games. At even strength later on, John Little would get some puck luck in his favour as a shot from Hirose popped up into the air, and he was able to whack it in making the score 3-2.
Early in the third, Salmon Arm would draw even on a goal from Nick Unruh. A slap shot from the point by Darren Rizzolo rebounded out, and on the power play Unruh scored his second goal in as many nights tying the game 3-3 with 16:25 to go. Four minutes later the Smoke Eaters scored two goals on the power play in the span of three minutes to reinstate their lead at 5-3. First it was Tyler Ghirardosi sliding a puck inside the left post on a rebound, and then Owen Ozar took a backdoor slap pass from Luke Gallagher for what stood as the eventual game winning goal.
On a power play of their own with six minutes left Trevor Adams scored to get his side within one, but that’s as close as they would come. Pulling Matthew Armitage, the Silverbacks held offensive pressure in the final 1:30, but were unable to send the game to overtime.
Salmon Arm was a perfect three for three on the power play while the Smoke Eaters were three for five.
The Silverbacks sit two points back of the West Kelowna Warriors for fourth in the Interior Division, and have a doubleheader against them coming up this week. Friday in Salmon Arm, and Saturday night in West Kelowna.
Key Performer:
A perfect three for three, the Silverbacks power play units were as good as good be, plus they had one goal scored in the second period on a delayed penalty and had Armitage pulled for the extra attacker.
