Salmon Arm, B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks (19-12-2) wrap up their first Island Trip on Sunday with a visit to Duncan to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals (20-11-3).
This is the second and final head-to-head meeting of the season. The two clubs met on Sept. 27 in Salmon Arm, where the Caps won 4-1.
Last Time Out
The Backs are coming off a 5-3 road loss to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday night, a game where they out-shot the home side 42-25.
Lucas Breault had a three-point game on Saturday, including two goals, while captain Akito Hirose tallied his fifth goal of the season and 11th power play point. It was the first time the Backs had scored three or more goals since Nov. 17 against Wenatchee, a span of seven games.
A Closer Look
The Backs winless streak now sits at seven games, going 0-6-1 since mid-November. Salmon Arm had seven goals in their previous six games before Saturday, so their three goals against the Bulldogs were a step forward.
With his second period power play goal last night, Akito Hirose now once again leads the Backs in scoring with 33 points, which continues to pace all d-men in the BCHL. Lucas Breault’s three-point-night Saturday gives him four in his first two games as a Silverback.
The Backs are now below .500 on the road this season, at 6-7-2.
The Opposition
The Capitals are coming of a 5-4 overtime win over the Powell River Kings on Saturday night. Will Arquiett notched the OT winner. The Caps had Friday off. Last weekend, they lost 4-3 to Victoria and then beat Alberni Valley 6-4.
Luc Wilson leads the team in points (36), while Matthew Crasa leads Cowichan in goals (17). Five different Caps forwards have 10 or more goals each: Arquiett (12), Crasa (17), Wilson (13), Brady Lynn (12) and Olivier Gauthier (10).
Cowichan is 11-5-2 on home ice this season. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Notable Versus Cowichan Valley
The Silverbacks lost 4-1 to the Capitals at the Shaw Centre on Sept. 27, a game where the teams combined for 23 minor penalties and five misconducts. Will Poirier had the lone Backs goal in that contest.
Over the last five years, the Backs are a combined 3-7 against the Capitals in the regular season.
Players to Watch
SILVERBACKS: TONY ANDREOZZI
Andreozzi had a strong game on Saturday, breaking up plays in the d-zone and leading countless rushes into the o-zone. He has nine points in just 19 games this season.
CAPITALS: PRIMO SELF
Self had three points in Saturday’s 5-4 win and now has seven points in his last two games. On the season, he has 27 points in 27 games.
Upcoming Milestones
Nick Unruh: 4 points from 100 career BCHL points
Tune In
Pre-game coverage on EZ Rock starts at 1:30 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will also be streamed live on HockeyTV.
