Landon Smith’s hat-trick, and four point night; along with 30 saves from Angus Redmond helped the Silverbacks defeat Trail 5-2 at the Cominco Arena on Tuesday Night.
It was the 7th time the Backs have played the Smoke Eaters this season, and the 5th in the last 5 weeks, as Salmon Arm played Tuesday without a lot of regulars, improving to 7-6-1-2 as Goaltender Angus Redmond came away with the win.
It didn’t take Salmon Arm long to get on the scoreboard, at 3:31 of the 1st period Landon Smith crashed towards the net on an amazing individual effort, and his rush created the opportunity for Taylor Maruya who joined the top line on thenight to score the game’s opening goal.
Trail answered back on their first power-play of the game when Jake Lucchini’s wrist-shot beat Angus Redmond to tie it at 1.
The SilverBacks 1st powerplay had its time tick down, and as soon as it ended, Alex Jewell jumped on a re-bound from Cole McAskill, and Colton Thibault to make it 2-1 'Backs, after the 1st period.
In the 2nd period, one of the more eventful periods of the year took place, as both teams got more then physical with one another, to say the very least. The SilverBacks added to their lead when the league’s leading scorer buried his 25th of the year as Landon Smith buried a loose puck from Gillies at 3:27.
Trail cut the lead to just one when Jesse Knowler scored on a one-timer from Branden Pears at 6:42. Shots were even at 26 after 2 periods of play.
Going into what promised to be a close an entertaining final period of regulation, Landon Smith controlled the game, scoring two more goals. Cole McAskill picked up another helper, Michael Roberts, Jack Berezan all got assists on the Smith goals which secured a 5-2 lead and victory for Salmon Arm.
The 'Backs now get ready to host the Vernon Vipers at home this Saturday on Teddy-bear Toss night!
