The Silverbacks host the Vernon Vipers tonight at 7 pm at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm in the second meeting of the season and first of back-to-back meetings this weekend.
The Silverbacks lost 3-2 in Vernon on Friday, October 10 as the Vipers opened the scoring in the first period before Taro Hirose tied the game in the opening frame and Chase Priskie's power-play goal 1:19 into the second period gave the Backs a 2-1 lead. But Vernon tied the game short-handed later in the middle frame and potted the winner in the third.
The Vipers are coming off of a 4-1 win in Trail versus the Smoke Eaters on Wednesday and a 5-3 victory at home over the Merritt Centennials on Saturday, November 1. The Silverbacks dropped their fourth consecutive game on Wednesday in Coquitlam 5-4 to the Express after a back-to-back 4-3 overtime loss last weekend to the West Kelowna Warriors.
The ‘Backs are 6-7-0-4 with 16 points in 17 games, while Vernon is 9-5-0-1 with 19 points in 15 games. The Vipers are 3-2-0-0 in their five road games this season while the Silverbacks are 3-3-0-2 in eight games at the Shaw Centre.
The Silverbacks have scored 54 goals in 17 games while allowing 57. The Vipers have scored 45 goals in their 15 games, while allowing 42. The ‘Backs specials teams are still ranked among the top ten in the BCHL, with the power-play seventh at 23.94%, while the penalty-kill is eighth at 78.57%. The Vipers power-play is ranked 15th of the 16 teams at 10.77%, while their penalty-kill is tenth at 77.27%.
Tonight will be newest Silverback Ryley Booth's first meeting with his former team. The 18-year-old rookie defenseman from Armstrong, BC was traded from the Vipers last week for future considerations. Booth began this season with one goal, three assists and 15 minutes in ten games with Vernon. He has an assist and two PIM's in his first three games with the ‘Backs.
The back half of the home-and-home set will go tomorrow night at 6 pm at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
