Three goals allowed in 7:47 during the second period led to a 4-1 win for the Wenatchee Wild in the Shaw Centre.
Coming off a weekend split in Wenatchee, the Silverbacks were looking to pickup their first win at home against the Wild.
Things didn’t get off to a great start as Nick Unruh received a two minute penalty following warmups for unsportsmanlike conduct. Salmon Arm killed off the power play, but past the halfway mark of the period took a second penalty with Darren Rizzolo slashing a Wild player driving the goal. Wenatchee wouldn’t score on the power play, but one second after it. Coming out from the right corner, AJ Hodges fed the puck across the ice to hit Trevor Greibel who had pinched up on the play. The rookie defencemen slid a shot under the pads of Matthew Armitage for his second goal of the season.
Early in the second in when things got a bit sloppy for Salmon Arm. 1:03 in, A shot from Marko Reifenberger rebounded out, and Brandon Koch picked up the rebound at the top of the left circle scoring what was the eventual game winner.
Five minutes later, it was Cristophe Fillion scoring his 18th of the season which gave him sole possession of second in team goal scoring. Missing two weeks to injury, leading goal scorer Matt Gosiewski made his return in Salmon Arm and scored his 28th of the season with a drive from the right corner.
In the third period, a power play for Salmon Arm five minutes in broke the shutout bid for Cal Sandquist. A shot from Matthew Verboon was saved by a diving Sandquist, but the puck flew into the air, and Jack Sampson to the left of the goal was able to knock in his third goal of the season, and second goal in the last three games.
Falling 4-1, Salmon Arm remained in fifth place losing out on a chance to pass the Vernon Vipers who are one point ahead for home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. Down in West Kelowna, the Warriors lost to Merritt meaning they remain four points back with two games left to play.
Salmon Arm concludes their season this weekend with a home-and-home series against the Penticton Vees. The Silverbacks host at 7pm in the Shaw Centre on Friday, while the rematch goes Saturday night in the SOEC at 5pm.
KEY PERFORMER:
With one point in his first five games with Salmon Arm, Jack Sampson now has eight points in the last seven games, and two goals in the last three. The big forward has been on a line with Nick Unruh for much of that, and the two will have Trevor Adams back on their line this weekend following a three game suspension.
