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Silverbacks extend their win streak to four games

Trail, BC – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks extended their win streak to four games as they took down the Trail Smoke Eaters by a final score of four to one.

For the second time this season, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (10-5-0-1) travelled into Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters (7-8-1-1). The two teams faced off just under a month ago at Cominco Arena in which the Smoke Eaters squeezed by the ‘Backs 4-3. The Silverbacks took a three game win streak into the afternoon matchup while the Smoke Eaters were coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Vees on Saturday.

Matthew Tovell (7-4-0-1, 2.74 GAA, .920 S%) got back into the net for the Silverbacks as he got his 13th start of the season. On the other side of the ice it was Teagan Kendrick (3-5-0-0, 3.45 GAA, .906 S%) getting the start for the Smoke Eaters.

The first period started off with a slow start as both teams were feeling the flow of the game with the afternoon start. Matthew Tovell was able to make a nice toe save early on to settle down the Silverbacks. Midway through the frame the Smoke Eaters took the first penalty of the game as Jack Kurrle went to the box for tripping. The Silverbacks were able to take advantage as Brandon Santa Juana (6) was the recipient of an Isaac Lambert cross ice pass and he was able to beat Kendrick to open the scoring. As the period moved along, Isaac Lambert went to the box for boarding. The Smoke Eaters hit the post on two separate occasions and Matthew Tovell did the rest to kill of the man advantage. Late in the period it was Will Lavigne (3) getting his second in as many games as he scored a fantastic goal to extend the lead to two. The Smoke Eaters outshot the Silverbacks 12-10 in the first. 

The second period started off in a different style as both teams were limited on the shot clock until the midway point of the period. The intensity pick up midway through the period when Lian Gayfer and Remy Spooner decided to drop the gloves just over six minutes into the period. That seemed to get both benches going as the intensity ramped up as the period progressed. Later in the period Ryan Buckley went to the box for two minutes as he sat for a holding call. Late in that man advantage it was Adam Marshall (4) cutting the Silverbacks lead in half. Just over a minute and a half later Jayden Grier (3) made a power move and was able to beat Kendrick five hole to restore the Silverbacks two goal lead. Shots in the middle frame were 12-11 in favor of the Smoke Eaters. 

The Silverbacks opened up the third period with a bang as Nathan Mackie went to the box for an interference call. The Silverbacks were able to not only kill of the penalty, but also add a short handed marker. Ethan Ullrick (9) was able to tap one in as he was on the receiving end of nice pass from Isaac Lambert on a two-on-one. The rest of the period was the Matthew Tovell show as he stopped 39 shots out of 40 on route to a second star performance. 

Next up for the Silverbacks will be a mid week clash with the Wenatchee Wild as they travel down south for the first time on the season. Puck drop will be at 6:05 on Wednesday night from Wenatchee.