SALMON ARM, BC: The Salmon Arm Silverbacks got goals from five different goal scorers, and Owen Say made 20 stops in goal as the Silverbacks defeated the Wenatchee Wild 6-3 at home in Game 1 of the First Round of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs.
The opening frame of the first-round matchup between the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and the Wenatchee Wild was fairly fast-paced to begin. The Backs got the first good scoring chance of the game in the first minute when Brandon Santa Juana had a chance at the side of the goal, but he slid it through the crease, keeping the game scoreless. The Wild then got the first powerplay of the hockey game when Bourgault was assessed a cross-checking penalty. The Wild, owners of the second-best powerplay in the regular season, clipping at just under 27%. They got a bounce in front of Owen Say, and it went right to the stick of Quinn Emerson, and he had a wide-open 6×4 to open the scoring. The Wild got two more powerplays in the first period but could not convert. The Silverbacks got a powerplay of their own when Nathan Morin drew a holding penalty. However, the Silverbacks could not get set up, only mustering two shots. The Wild outshot the Silverbacks 9-8 in the opening twenty minutes.
In the second period, there were six goals. Four from the Silverbacks and a pair from the Wild. The Wild doubled their lead in the early stages of the middle frame as a puck hit a body in front of Say and went straight to Cade Littler, and he was able to slide it past the outstretched Say for a 2-0 advantage. The Silverbacks responded nicely shortly after, as Noah Serdachny’s persistence paid off as he tucked it past Wild goaltender Tyler Shea to cut the lead in half. Moments later, Mathieu Cobetto-Roy was drilled in the corner by defenceman Travis Bohnet resulting in a boarding penalty. The Silverbacks needed just 16 seconds to cash in on the powerplay, as Daniel Panetta beat Shea in front of the goal tying the game at two. Two minutes later, the Silverbacks took the lead as Tucker Hartmann made a nice pass to Nathan Mackie, and he quickly snapped it past Shea to give the Silverbacks their first lead of the hockey game. The lead was short-lived, though, as the Wild tied it up on a powerplay a couple of minutes later. Ean Somoza beat Say to tie the game at three. The Silverbacks got another powerplay late in the middle frame when Bohnet tripped up Simon Tassy. It was the second unit, this time finding the back of the net, as the puck found Zack Smith in the slot, and he ripped it past Shea to give the Backs a 4-3 lead. The Silverbacks outshot the Wild 16-9 in the second period.
With a one-goal lead in their hands, the Silverbacks looked to take over the game in front of a lovely home crowd. The Backs doubled their lead in the third period when Tassy made a ridiculous behind-the-back no-look pass to Serdachny at the side of the net, making it 5-3, the goal Serdachny’s second of the night. Tassy added a goal of his own late in the third period as he potted home a rebound in front of Shea to make it a 6-3 lead for the home side. The Silverbacks open the series with a home victory and will look to follow it up with another tomorrow. Game 2 goes at 5:00 PM from the Shaw Centre. Remember kids under the age of 15 get in FREE. (you must call or visit the box office to receive the ticket.
