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Silverbacks & Cents End In Tie

The Silverbacks (24-11-3-3) and Merritt Centennials (15-26-1-3) played for 70 minutes, five periods last night (Tuesday) and finished tied 5-5 at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks are now tied for second in the Interior Division with the West Kelowna Warriors (26-15-0-2) but the ‘Backs have two games in hand on West Kelowna. The Centennials earned their first tie of the season and are now just five points back of the Vernon Vipers (18-23-0-3) in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Interior.

The visitors opened the scoring in the opening period and lead 2-0 just 4:46 into the game, with the second goal scored on the power-play after Marcus Mitchell was penalized for high-sticking.

The home team responded less than three minutes later with back-to-back goals. Chase Zieky potted his 20th and on the power-play at 7:30, while Jared Turcotte’s seventh of the season tied the game 2-2 at 14:50. The ‘Backs outshot the Cents 12-11 in the first frame, as Brandon Kegler made his second consecutive start with Angus Redmond injured this past Friday at home to Vernon. ‘Backs affiliated goalie Daniel Towes of the Chase Heat in the KIJHL backed up Kegler.

The Silverbacks took their first and only lead of the game just 82 seconds into the second period 3-2, as Turcotte depositied his second of the night and eighth of the season at 1:22.

But, Merritt went onto the score the final three goals in the period and back-to-back just 11 seconds apart to finish the frame. The Silverbacks trailed 5-3 after 40 minutes but lead 18-9 on the shot clock in the second stanza.

The ‘Backs then potted the final two goals in the game, with Taro’s Hirose’s 10th at 7:13 as he deflected Cameron Trott’s point shot in front of the net and past Cents starter Cole Kehler. Zieky tied the score with his second of the night and 21st of the season and with the man-advantage at 15:00.

The Silverbacks outshot the Centennials 10-9 in the third period, while each team had a pair of shots in the five minutes of 4-on-4 overtime and Merritt had the lone shot in 3-on-3 OT as the ‘Backs outshot the visitors 42-32 total.

Six of the 10 goals in the game came on the power-play with the Silverbacks finishing 3-for-6 with the man-advantage and 3-for-5 on the penalty-kill.

The ‘Backs have yet to win in overtime this season, now with three ties and losing twice. Riley Booth left Tuesday’s game with an upper body injury.

The Silverbacks still lead the season series with the Centennials, after three wins along with one loss and the tie. 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 season series will wrap up 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 picked up two of a possible six points in their three-game home stand and are now 12-5-3-2 at the Shaw Centre and 14-5-1-3 in the Interior as they prepare for three-games in as many days coming up this weekend on Vancouver Island. The trip will begin on Friday, January 22nd versus the Cowichan Valley Capitals (21-16-3-3) at 7p.m., before Saturday, January 23rd at the Victoria Grizzlies (19-20-0-4) at 7p.m., and conclude with the Nanaimo Clippers (29-15-0-1) on Sunday, January 24th at 3p.m.

The Silverbacks next home game will be on Saturday, January 30th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre, and that game will be the back half of a home-and-home set with the Vipers, beginning Friday January 29th in Vernon at 7p.m.

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