The Silverbacks opened the scoring for the fifth time in nine games on Saturday night in Merritt against the Centennials as both teams were looking to end winless streaks. The Centennials lost their second consecutive game on Friday 7-1 in Chilliwack while the Silverbacks were winless in four after a 3-2 loss in Vernon on Friday.
Carson Bolduc thought he had opened the scoring for the visitors at 6:42 as Bolduc put a shot on goal from the boards but after the officials discussed the play and ruled that the puck did not cross the goal line.
Just minutes later, Angus Redmond made his first of a handful of huge stops for the Silverbacks as Redmond sprawled out in his crease to take the puck away from former Silverbacks AP Nick Fidanza of Kamloops, BC who tried to make moves around the Silverbacks' netminder.
Andrew Farny scored the games first goal, as Colton Thibault moved the puck out of the corner to Farny at the point who let a low shot go along the ice for his third goal of the season. The Silverbacks took a one-nothing lead into the first intermission, out-shooting the Centennials 9-8 in the first period.
The Cents tied the game 3:07 into the second period as Daniel Nachbaur found a rebound off of Colin Grannary's shot from the slot and Nachbaur potted his second of the season.
Bennett Morrison restored the Silverbacks lead and scored his first BCHL goal, 2-1 as Morrison fired a sharp-angle shot on the power-play at 5:21 from Andrew Farny and Bryden Marsh.
The Backs then finished the middle period with back-to-back goals, capitalizing on back-to-back Centennials penalties. As 10 seconds into the 5-on-3 for 1:44, Carson Bolduc put the puck on net from the point and Bryden Marsh found the rebound. Marsh's second of the season from Bolduc and Chase Priskie, just ten seconds into the two-man advantage. And Colton Thibault finished the second period scoring with his first of the season, as Jack Berezan passed the puck out from behind the Centennials goal and Thibault fired it in blocker side. Logan Mick picked up the second assist at 19:41 as the Silverbacks lead 4-1 after 40 minutes. The Backs out-shot the Cents 15-6 in the middle frame.
After scoring the games first goal, Andrew Farny scored the first goal in the third period with his fourth of the season as he sailed a wrist shot toward the goal on the power-play at 15:52. Carson Bolduc and Bennett Morrison with the assists as the Silverbacks took a 5-1 lead. And Marcus Russell potted his first BCHL goal at 17:25, as he fired a shot from the circle with Thomas Plese picking up the assist on another power-play marker for the Silverbacks who went ahead 6-1. The Backs tied the season series with the 6-1 victory, after the Centennials won 5-2 in Salmon Arm in September.
The Silverbacks out-shot the Centennials 10-7 in the third period, and out-shot the Cents 34-21 overall. The Silverbacks finished four-for-six on the power-play, while the Centennials went 0-for-four with the man-advantage.
The Backs now have four wins, three losses, along with two overtime losses for ten points in nine games. The Silverbacks are currently in a three-way tie for third in the Interior Division with the Centennials and West Kelowna Warriors. The Vernon Vipers are one point ahead in second place, while the Penticton Vees lead the division with 16 points.
The Silverbacks will be back in action on Friday, October 17th at home to the Victoria Grizzlies at 7 pm at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm and again on Sunday, October 19th at home to the Penticton Vees at 3 pm at the Shaw Centre.
