Salmon Arm, BC – Game two of the BCHL Interior Conference Quarter Finals went on Saturday night with the Silverbacks and Spruce Kings going to battle for the second time in as many nights. The Silverbacks were looking to take a stranglehold on the series and take a two to nothing lead in the best-of-seven before the series switched over to Prince George. The crowd in Salmon Arm was once again a factor as they continued to bring the noise at the Shaw Centre. Prince George was hoping to steal back the series with a win in Salmon Arm as three out of the possible five remaining games would be played at the Kopar Memorial Arena in Prince George.
Matthew Tovell (1-0-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .971 S%, 0 SO) got the start for the Silverbacks, while Jordan Fairlie (0-1-0-0, 2.06 GAA, .943 S%, 0 SO) got the start for Prince George.
The opening period in game two brought a different feel to which we saw the night prior as both teams seemed more susceptible to getting into the action in a quicker manner. The Spruce Kings went to the penalty kill just over six minutes into the period as Owen Goodbrand took a roughing call after the whistle to give the Silverbacks the first powerplay of the hockey game. On the ensuing powerplay, it was Brandon Santa Juana (1) batting a rebound by Fairlie to get Salmon Arm on the board. Prince George quickly got back into it as just two minutes after the opening goal, they got things tied up. It was Linden Makow (1) deflecting a shot from the line off of the stick of Luke Shraeder as the puck made its way past the glove of Tovell to get Prince George on the board. The Spruce Kings weren’t done there as they continued to apply the pressure as the period progressed. It was Ty Gagno (1) firing home a shot from the slot off the crossbar and in to give the Spruce Kings their first lead of the series. Shots in the period were 12-7 in favour of Salmon Arm.
The middle frame in Salmon Arm was one for the books as the home crowd at the Shaw Centre was treated to one of the best periods of the entire season. Things got going quickly as just 37 seconds in it was CJ Foley (1) getting things tied up at two a piece as he batted home a rebound by Fairlie. Prince George went to the powerplay for the first time of the game quickly after the ‘Backs tying goal as Hayden Stavroff went to the box for a cross-checking call. On the Spruce Kings man-advantage it was Jake Schneider (1) restoring their one goal lead. Salmon Arm quickly fought back as Casy Laylin (1) got things tied up just a minute after the Spruce Kings powerplay goal as the Silverbacks were once again rewarded for making their way to the net following up on a rebound. The play of the game came just before the halfway mark of the period as Mathieu Bourgault picked up the puck in the corner before finding Ethan Ullrick (2) in the slot where he beat Fairlie to give Salmon Arm the lead. That was not the end of the scoring onslaught for the Silverbacks as Hayden Stavroff (1) was able to steal the puck at the blue line before making his way into the offensive zone and ripping one by Fairlie to give the Silverbacks their biggest lead of the series. Shots in the middle frame were 22-8 in favour of Salmon Arm.
The incredible pace that was seen in the middle frame was tough to match as the two teams came out to a much more conservative start to the final frame in Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks had two powerplay opportunities in the first half of the period as they were looking to extend their lead to three goals, but Jordan Fairlie was the difference maker as he made several big saves for the shorthanded unit. Salmon Arm continued to apply the pressure as the period progressed, keeping Prince George to the outside areas of the ice. Salmon Arm added one more late in the third off of the stick of Liam Steele (1) as he beat Fairlie with a shot from the blueline. The Silverbacks took this one 6-3.
Next up for the Silverbacks will be game number three of the best-of-seven as the series switches over to Prince George. Puck drops at 7:00PM on Tuesday night from the Kopar Memorial Arena. You can catch all of the action on Hockey TV!
Photo by CHRIS FOWLER – Recap Courtesy of TONY TROZZO
