The Silverbacks (3-2-0-2) travel to Vernon tonight to take on the Vipers (3-3-0-1), for the first time in this 2014-15 regular season. The Vipers come into the game after winning 2-1 at home over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday, October 4. The Silverbacks began a stretch of three consecutive road games on Wednesday in Surrey by dropping a 3-2 double overtime decision to the Eagles.
The `Backs jumped out to a two-nothing lead in the first period as former Eagle Josh Blanchard opened the scoring with his first of the season but Surrey tied the game in the second period and potted the OT winner just 12 seconds into the extra frame.
The Vipers have five returning players from last season's team which finished third in the Interior Division (30-18-4-6) with 70 points and hosted the RBC Cup National Championship. The Vipers are without six of their seven top scorer's from 2013-14, Liam Coughlin tied for third in team scoring with 18 goals, 27 assists for 45 points in 53 games.
The Silverbacks won the season series 4-2-0-1, outscoring the Vipers 28-18. The `Backs won the first two games versus the Vipers last season, 6-1 at the Shaw Centre and 6-5 in double-overtime at Kal Tire Place in Vernon. The Silverbacks finished the season with a 1-1-0-1 record at Kal Tire Place. The Silverbacks had a record of 18-12-1-5 versus the Interior Division, and 7-6-1-4 on the road in 2013-14.
The Silverbacks will finish this weekend on Saturday in Merritt against the Centennials. The next home game for the Backs is Friday the 17th as the Silverbacks will host the Victoria Grizzlies at the Shaw Centre at 7 p.m.
