Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks faced the Penticton Vees in Game 2 of the Interior Conference Finals.
The first period saw a back-and-forth battle with neither team finding the back of the net. Two and a half minutes in, the Silverbacks get their first powerplay when Ryan MacPherson gets called for hooking, but were unable to capitalize. With three minutes left, Ryan Gillespie and Zack Stringer get sent to the box for roughing making it four-on-four. The Silverbacks were outshot 14-9 in the first period.
The scoring got started for both teams in the second period. Nine minutes in, James Fisher led a rush for the Vees, trying to split the defenseman, and got pulled down with a hook which led to the referees calling a rare penalty shot for Fisher. He made no mistake by sliding the puck five-hole to give the Vees the 1-0 lead. Answering back in a huge way was Jonah Aegerter when he toe-dragged the puck around the defender and sniped the puck top corner to tie the game, 1-1. Grabbing back the momentum was the Vees two minutes later when Billy Renfrew sent a laser into the twine to take the 2-1 lead.
The Vees would put the game to bed in the third period. With six minutes left, Connor MacPherson collects a loose puck in the high slot and sends a rocket home to make it a two-goal game. The Silverbacks would empty the net and push for a comeback but it falls short when Callum Arnott slides it into the net for the 4-1 win.
Despite the loss, Eli Pulver made 32/35 saves with the series being tied up, 1-1.
