Salmon Arm didn’t quit Saturday in a game that wound up a lot closer than it looked it would be after 20 minutes.
Merritt won 4-3 in overtime, but the fact Salmon Arm even got there was quite impressive. They had to kill off nine penalties over the course of the game, and were down 3-0 after the first.
Instead they battled back and earned one point to give them three on the weekend after a 2-0 win Friday against Vernon.
Despite only having one assist to his name, Payton Matsui had looked good for the Cents since being acquired a few weeks ago. He would change that two and half minutes into the first as he took a shot from the right faceoff circle beating Ethan Langenegger. Five minutes later on an odd man rush, Matsui’s originally shot was stopped, but the rebound went off the Silverbacks defenceman and into the net.
Salmon Arm would go to the power play looking to get within one, but instead dug a bigger hole with Bradley Cocca scoring shorthanded. Nick Granowicz went behind the net drawing both defenders and then put the puck out front for Cocca who was all alone to find twine.
Shots after the first were 10-5 for Merritt, but the visitors would come out swinging in the second as Salmon Arm had ten shots in the first five minutes. One would find the back of the net as Nick Unruh picked up a loose puck and was able to score ending four periods of shutout hockey the Cents had held Salmon Arm to this season in the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Two minutes later Akito Hirose nearly scored on a rebound off an Andy Stevens point shot, but Austin Roden came across with the big right pad stop.
Just past the halfway mark of the period, Salmon Arm eventually got within one as Andy Stevens scored his second goal of the season. Walking in past the blue line, his high shot caught the shoulder of Roden rolling over and into the goal to make it 3-2 after two. Late in the frame Rylan Van Unen nearly restored the Cents two goal lead on a breakaway by Langenegger was able to shut the door.
Centennials Captain Nicholas Wicks had an early breakaway in the third but also couldn’t solve the Silverbacks goalie. Salmon Arm continued to push, and were forced to kill off three more penalties in the period but eventually evened the score with 5:15 left. An Olson Werenka shot from the right faceoff circle was kicked out by Roden, but Matthew Verboon found the rebound to tie the game. It was the tenth goal of Verboon’s rookie season putting him in a three way tie with Trevor Adams and Nick Unruh for the team lead.
In overtime, Merritt was able to get the extra point as a shot from Jackson Munro in the left faceoff circle won the game. Final shots were 39-37 for Salmon Arm.
Vernon had beat Trail earlier in the game to briefly tie Salmon Arm in the standings, but the single point for the Silverbacks gave them sole possession of fifth in the Interior.
Key Performers: With numerous calls going against them, the Silverbacks penalty killers could have been frustrated, but instead were able to stay composed and stay perfect on the night. One of the most steady defenders this season, Andy Stevens was rewarded offensively in Merritt. He scored a goal, and had a number of good shots through traffic to generate original chances or rebounds.
