The Silverbacks (24-11-2-3) host the Merritt Centennials (15-26-0-3) tonight at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Tonight is the third game of a three game home stand for the ‘Backs who fell 2-1 in double overtime this past Saturday, January 16th at home to the West Kelowna Warriors (26-15-0-2), after losing 10-5 at home to the Vernon Vipers (18-23-0-3) on Friday, January 15th.
The Silverbacks lead the season series with the Centennials, three games to one. The ‘Backs won 5-2 at home over Merritt on November 13th, as well as a 5-4 victory in the Nicola Valley on October 25th and a 7-5 victory in Merritt on September 15th. The Centennials got by the Silverbacks 2-1 in Salmon Arm on October 7th.
The ‘Backs are 12-5-2-2 at the Shaw Centre and 14-5-0-3 in the Interior, while the Cents are 8-14-0-0 on the road and 9-16-0-2 in the division.
Colin Grannary of the Centennials is ranked sixth amongst BCHL’ers with 24 goals and 35 assists in 43 games, as well Grannary is on a consecutive point scoring streak dating back to December 2nd with seven goals and 18 assists in 13 games. Carson Bolduc leads the Silverbacks and is 17th overall, with 17 goals and 32 assists in 40 games for the 19-year-old of Salmon Arm.
The ‘Backs have forward Constable Grayson committed for next season, 2016-17. The 17-year-old has 11 goals (3 PPG), 19 assists and 24 penalty-minutes in 28 games this season with the Midget Triple A Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Silverbacks have scored 162 goals in 40 games which is the fourth highest total around the league, tied with the Chilliwack Chiefs (27-8-1-4). The Cents are eighth in goals for with 151 in 44 games. The ‘Backs have allowed the fourth fewest number of goals at 119, while Merritt has the third highest total of goals against in the 17 team BCHL at 190.
The Silverbacks power-play is ranked sixth, just over 23-percent and fifth in power-play goals with 43 while allowing five short-handed goals against. The Cents power-play sits ninth, ticking at over 19-percent with 41 goals for sixth and ninth in power-play markers against with six. The Silverbacks penalty-kill is seventh at over 82-percent with the highest number of short-handed goals scored at 11, tied with the Chiefs. As well as the ‘Backs 37 power-goals against is the eighth fewest. Merritt’s penalty-kill is at the bottom of the BCHL, just over 68-percent with the third highest total of short-handed goals at nine but the most power-play goals against at 63.
The Silverbacks now sit third in the Interior Division, one point behind the Warriors and the ‘Backs have three games in hand on West Kelowna. The Centennials are six points back of the Vipers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Interior.
The Silverbacks and Centennials will finish their season series with a back-to-back, home-and-home set beginning Friday, February 5th at the Shaw Centre at 7p.m. and Saturday, February 6th in the Nicola Valley at 7:30p.m.
The ‘Backs begin three games in as many days on the road coming up this week on Friday, January 22nd on Vancouver Island versus the Cowichan Valley Capitals (21-16-3-3) at 7p.m., and Saturday at the Victoria Grizzlies (19-20-0-4) at 7p.m., and wrap up with the Nanaimo Clippers (29-15-0-1) on Sunday at 3p.m.
The Silverbacks next home game after tonight will be the back half of a home-and-home set with the Vipers, beginning Friday January 29th in Vernon at 7p.m. and Saturday, January 30th in Salmon Arm at 7p.m.
Each Silverbacks and BCHL game is webcast live, PPV http://bchl.fasthockey.comas well as each ‘Backs road game is broadcast live at CKVS 93.7 FM http://voiceoftheshuswap.ca Each home game is broadcast at http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 Tune into CKVS each Monday night throughout the season beginning at 7p.m.for 30 minutes or more of Silverbacks talk, including interviews and news from around the BCHL.
