Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks went to Cranbrook to face the Bucks for the second time this season.
The Bucks got off to a hot start in their home opener. In the first five minutes, Nikolaj Rupi took a back-door centering feed from the end boards and found the top corner to give the Bucks the 1-0 lead. 2 minutes later, adding onto the lead, Matthew Gilmore finishes off a two-on-one rush to make it a 2-0 game early on. The opening frame ended with a powerplay goal for the Silverbacks to get onto the board when Cole Longacre unleashes a heavy one-timer for his first of the season, 2-1. The Silverbacks out shot the Bucks 14-7 in the first 20 minutes.
Pushing in the second period, the Silverbacks tie up the game. 5 minutes in, the Silverbacks offence was pressing, resulting in a scramble in front where Keifer Miller grabs the loose puck and throws it into an open net for his first of the season, making it 2-2. The Bucks had a chance on the powerplay late in the frame with Bailey Yates in the box for tripping but could not capitalize.
The third period was back-and-forth as each team tried to take control. There was no goals or penalties in the final frame as this game needed more hockey for the second straight match up between these teams.
It only took 58 second of overtime for this game to be over. The Bucks lead up an odd-man rush where the puck was dropped off to Adam Csabi who finishes the game with his 5th of the season to get the win for the Bucks on their home opener.
Despite the loss, Daniel Dirracolo made 24/27 saves.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
