The Silverbacks and Vernon Vipers meet tonight for the second game in as many nights tonight at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place at Vernon. The season series is now tied at a game each, after the Backs won 2-1 at home at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm last night, ending their four game losing skid and snapping the Vipers two-game win streak.
The Silverbacks opened the scoring in the first period, as Taro Hirose potted his seventh from Shane Danyluk and Carson Bolduc on power-play with Johnny Coughlin off for roughing. And the Backs took that lead into the second period, out-shooting the visitors 15-10 in the first period.
Neither team found the back of the net in the second frame, as the Silverbacks out-shot the Vipers 13-8 and lead one-nothing into the third.
Bolduc then gave the Backs a two-nothing lead at 13:59 of the third, his seventh from Hirose and Danyluk. And with two minutes remaining in the third period and the Silverbacks ahead two-nothing, the Vipers pulled starting goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn for the extra attacker. And the Vipers appeared to have scored their first goal of the game after a scramble around Silverbacks starter Angus Redmond with 31.3 seconds remaining in the period, but after the four officials had a lengthy discussion the goal was disallowed. The Backs were then called for icing with 24.1 seconds remaining in the period, and off of the face-off Riley Guenther scored for the Vipers with 12 seconds remaining, 6-on-5.
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 Vipers were without three players last night due to suspension but, will have the services of defenseman Brandon Egli back tonight, as he has served his four game suspension after the multiple fights on Saturday, October 18th in West Kelowna. Goaltender Danny Todosychuk is serving game five of six tonight, while forward Riley Brandy is serving game four of six.
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 Silverbacks are 3-4-0-2 away from the Shaw Centre this season, while the Vipers are 3-3-0-0 at home.
