The Silverbacks hosted the Vernon Vipers last night for the first time this season at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, in their second meeting of the 2014-15 Season after the Vipers edged the Backs 3-2 in Vernon on Friday, October 10th. The home team was trying to end its four-game losing skid, while the visitors were looking to extend their two game winning streak.
The Vipers took the first penalty of the game as Johnny Coughlin was called for roughing around the Vernon goal at 6:49. And just 48 seconds later, Trevor Fidler was called for high-sticking Shane Danyluk along the boards in Vipers territory which gave the Silverbacks a 5-on-3 power-play for 1:12. The ‘Backs had their chances but weren't able to capitalize on the 5-on-3. As Andrew Farny started out of his own zone and passed the puck up the right wing to Shane Danyluk who moved through the neutral zone and into Vipers territory, Fidler came out of the penalty box, Danyluk sent a rink wide pass over to Taro Hirose who moved in and around Vipers before snapping home his seventh of the season glove side on starting goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn. Danyluk and Carson Bolduc with the assists on the power-play marker at 8:53 which gave the Silverbacks a one-nothing lead.
Chase Priskie was called for slashing at 13:05 of the first period which gave the Vipers their first power-play of the game. The Backs took their one-nothing lead into the second period, as they out-shot the Vipers 15-10 in the opening frame.
Vernon took two penalties the second period as Johnny Coughlin was called for tripping just 52 seconds into the frame and Kenny Citron was penalized for tripping at 10:59. The Silverbacks weren't able to score on either man-advantage as neither team found the back of the net in the middle stanza.
Silverbacks starter Angus Redmond made one of his best saves of the night with less than five minutes remaining in the second period, as the Vipers moved the puck into Silverbacks territory and Anthony Latina let a shot go from the top of the slot that was swatted out of the air by Redmond. The ‘Backs out-shot the Vipers 13-8 in the second period and led one-nothing into the third.
Taylor Maruya began the third period with the first and only penalty of the frame, as he was called for interference at 2:33. Redmond came up with another glove save, as he waved at a shot from Johnny Coughlin in the slot on the Viper's second power-play.
Carson Bolduc then gave the Backs a two-nothing lead at 13:59 as Hirose skated the puck through the neutral zone and in over the Vipers line along the left wing before passing it back to the top of the slot for Bolduc who fired a shot past Schamerhorn, Bolduc's seventh of the season from Hirose and Danyluk.
With two minutes remaining in the third period and the Silverbacks ahead two-nothing, the Vipers pulled Schamerhorn for the extra attacker. And the Vipers appeared to have scored their first goal of the game after a scramble around Redmond with 31.3 seconds remaining in the period but after the four officials had a lengthy discussion the goal was disallowed. The Silverbacks were then called for icing with 24.1 seconds remaining in the period, and off of the face-off Riley Guenther put a shot toward the goal, into bodies and Liam Finlay found the rebound and got the Vipers on the scoreboard. Vernon's first and only goal at 19:48, 6-on-5. The ‘Backs snap their four-game losing skid and end the Vipers two-game win streak with a 2-1 victory at home.
The Silverbacks and Vipers each had seven shots in the third, as the Backs out-shot the Vipers 35-25. Redmond made 24 saves for his fifth win of the season. The Silverbacks finished one-for-four with the power-play, while Vernon went 0-for-two with the man-advantage.
The Backs are now 7-7-0-4 with 18 points in 18 games, while the Vipers are 9-6-0-1 with 19 points in 16 games. The season series is now tied at a game each as the third meeting is set for tonight at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place at Vernon.
