Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks were forced the distance to Game 7 against the Penticton Vees in the Interior Conference Finals.
With the first period being controlled by Penticton, Game 7 starts with a scoreless first. There were no goals or penalties called on either side in the opening frame. The Vees came out as the aggressors, outshooting the Silverbacks 16-7.
Both teams found the back of the net to keep the game tied after the second period. Within the first two minutes, the Vees were on the offensive attack once again with a scramble in front of the net. A loose puck sat in the blue paint which allowed Zack Stringer to swoop in and finish off the scramble to give Penticton the 1-0 lead. At the 12:23 mark, Anselmo Rego was sent to the penalty box for tripping, giving Salmon Arm the first powerplay of the game. On the man advantage, Cole Cooksey breaks over the blue line and sends a laser to the top corner, over the glove-side, to tie up the game, 1-1. The Silverbacks had to kill off a Nathaniel Davis roughing penalty to finish off the middle frame.
The Vees were able to sneak out a crazy third period. Nine minutes in, JJ Monteiro takes the puck in the neutral zone and does the hard work himself, weaving in and out of attackers, pulls some beautiful dekes, and slides it to a wide open Nathan Mackie in the slot to wire the go ahead goal, 2-1. Back on the ice two minutes later, the Captain, Nathan Mackie once again finds the soft spot in the slot and hammers home a one-timer for his second goal of the game, making it 3-1. With just over four minutes left in the final frame, Nolan Stevenson sends a point shot through traffic to cut into the lead, 3-2. Penticton would then pull their goalie pushing for the tie. 26 seconds to go, Connor Helleyer tips in a centering feed to tie up Game 7, 3-3. Off the ensuing faceoff, the Vees gain possession of the puck and enter the offensive zone, Nolan Stevenson once again fires a puck on net that bounced around some bodies and into the back of the net, Stevenson gets credit for his second of the game. The Vees were able to score two goals in the final 26 seconds to comeback and stun the Silverbacks in Game 7.
Eli Pulver made 45/49 in the Game 7 loss.
(Photo credit: Cherie Morgan)
