The Silverbacks and Surrey Eagles met for the second time this season on Wednesday night in the Lower Mainland, as the Backs began the season with a 4-3 double overtime, come from behind victory over the Eagles at the Bauer BCHL Showcase last month in Chilliwack.
Last night (Wednesday) the Silverbacks jumped out to a two-nothing lead in the first period, as former Eagle Josh Blanchard found a rebound after Karl El-Mir shot the puck toward net minder Daniel Davidson resulting in Blanchard's first goal of the season. This days after he was traded by the Eagles in exchange for Andy Chugg. The Silverbacks added to their lead in the opening frame as Shane Danyluk won a face-off to the left of the Eagles goal and Carson Bolduc picked up the puck, fired it on the net and poked in his own rebound – resulting in Bolduc's fourth goal of the season. The Silverbacks out-shot Surrey 18-8 in the first period as Zach Dyment made his second consecutive start and second versus Surrey.
The Eagles tied the game in the second period, scoring their goals five minutes and 21 seconds apart and out-shot the Silverbacks 14-11 in the middle frame.
No scoring in the third period as the Eagles out-shot the Backs again, 8-5 but the Silverbacks out-shot the Eagles 34-30 after regulation time.
Just 12 seconds into the four-on-four, five minute overtime period the Eagles Joseph Drapluk beat the Silverbacks to the puck along the boards in the neutral zone, and Drapluk skated in along the right wing and back-handed the puck up and over Dyment. The Eagles came back to win 3-2 in overtime over the Silverbacks in Surrey.
The Eagles out-shot the Silverbacks 1-0 in the overtime period, but the Backs lead 34-31 in shots overall. The Silverbacks finished 0-for-two on the power-play, while the Eagles went 0-for-four.
The Silverbacks now have three wins, two regulation losses, and two overtime losses for 8 points in their first seven games. The Silverbacks are alone in third place in the Interior Division, two points back of the second place Merritt Centennials and West Kelowna Warriors, and one point ahead of the fourth place Vernon Vipers.
The Silverbacks will play their second consecutive road game Friday night, October 10 as they take on the Vernon Vipers for the first time in the 2014-15 regular season at 7 pm. at Kal Tire Place in Vernon. The Backs will conclude the weekend in Merritt on Saturday, October 11 versus the Centennials at 7:30 pm. The next home game at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm is on Friday, October 17th as the Silverbacks host the Victoria Grizzlies at 7 pm.
