The Silverbacks meet the Powell River Kings this afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Shaw Centre Centre in Salmon Arm. The 'Backs are coming off of their fifth consecutive victory on home ice last night, while the Kings lost their second consecutive game. Tonight will be the second meeting of the season after the Kings beat the Silverbacks 4-3 in double-overtime in Powell River on Friday, November 21st.
The 'Backs opened the scoring at 6:45 last night as Jordan Burns and Bryden Marsh worked to keep the puck in at the Nanamio line, Ross Heidt and Josh Blanchard then moved the puck in front of Clippers starting goalie Guillaume Decelles and Blanchard found time and space to fire it up and in. Heidt with the assist on Blanchard's 14th of the season. But the Clippers responded with just 48 seconds remaining in the period and on the power-play, as Yanni Kaldis potted his sixth from Jake Jackson with Chase Priskie off for delay of game. The game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and the Silverbacks out-shot Nanaimo 17-8.
The Clippers took their first lead just 2:49 into the second period, as Jacob Hanlon scored his 9th from Spencer Hewson. But the 'Backs answered back at 6:53, as Taro Hirose deflected Andrew Farny's point shot for his 15th and the game was tied 2-2. The Silverbacks went ahead 3-2 at 11:47 and 4-on-3, as Farny skated down the left-wing and fired a sharp angle shot that found it's way in for his 12th with the assist to starting goalie Angus Redmond. Kale Bennett tied the game for the Clippers at 16:41, his 5th of the season from Nicolas Carrier and Cole Maier. But the 'Backs took the lead back before the second period was over, as Farny let a shot go from the Nanaimo line and Shane Danyluk got his stick on it in front for his 7th from Farny and Hirose on the power-play at 18:33. The Silverbacks lead 4-3 after 40 minutes and out-shot the Clippers 12-9 in the second frame.
Nanaimo scored the only goal of the third just 2:22 into the period, Anthony Rinaldi's 14th from Hanlon and Hewson to tie the game 4-4. The 'Backs out-shot the Clippers 14-4 in the third and 43-21 after 60 minutes.
And just 46 seconds into the five minute, 4-on-4 overtime period Josh Blanchard finished off a passing play which he started at the Clippers line. As he sent the puck into the right corner to Heidt, who the moved it back out to Priskie along the right side, Priskie back-handed the puck across the zone to Damion Chrcek at the left boards and Chrcek fired it to the side of the net to Blanchard who just missed but then turned and jammed the puck in for his second of the game and 15th of the season. Priskie and Heidt with the assists as the Silverbacks won 5-4 for just their second OT victory of the season.
The 'Backs out-shot the Clippers 2-0 in the extra frame and 45-21 overall. The Silverbacks finished 2-for-3 on the power-play and 2 for-3 on the penalty-kill.
The Silverbacks have points in 9 of their last 10 games (8-2-0-0), and are now 2-2-0-1 versus the Island Division.
Powell River lost 6-4 to the Warriors in West Kelowna last night. The Kings are 5-4-0-1 in their last 10 games, and 2-6-0-1 versus the Interior Division.
The Silverbacks are 18-15-3-5 with 44 points in 41 games and fifth in the Interior Division. The 'Backs are four points behind the Merritt Centennials who are in fourth place and have one game in hand on the Silverbacks. The Silverbacks are five points back of West Kelowna who is third, but the 'Backs have two games in hand on the Warriors.
The Kings are 20-16-0-8 with 48 points in 44 games and tied for second in the Island Division with the Victoria Grizzlies who have one game in hand on the Kings. Powell River is 12 points behind first place Nanaimo and five points ahead of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who have four games in hand on the Kings.
The Kings have three of the top ten scorer's in the BCHL, Jarid Lukosevicius is 5th with 27 goals and 31 assists in 43 games, while Jacob Pritchard is 6th with 23 goals and 31 assists in 41 games, and Kurt Keats is 9th with 27 goals and 23 assists in 38 games.
Andrew Farny leads the Silverbacks and is now the highest scoring defesenman in the BCHL and 21st overall, with 12 goals and 32 assists in 41 games.
The Silverbacks are 10-7-2-2 at the Shaw Centre, while Powell River is 9-7-2-2 on the road.
After today, the Silverbacks next five games will be away from the Shaw Centre beginning Friday, January 23rd in Victoria. The 'Backs next home game is Saturday January 31st at 7 p.m. as they host the Vernon Vipers.
