Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks finished the weekend on the road against the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Silverbacks trail after a back-and-forth first period. Getting the scoring started was the Smoke Eaters in the first five minutes when Erik Pastro takes a feed in front and slides it in to make it 1-0. A quick answer, less than a minute later, Brady Craik takes advantage of a defenceman without a stick and snipes it glove hand corner for his first career BCHL goal, 1-1. Off the ensuing faceoff, Anthony Cardilli gets called for a high stick, taking the first penalty of the game. On the powerplay, Zach Coutu riffles a one-timer to re-take the lead, 2-1. The first powerplay opportunity for the Silverbacks goes by the way side to end the opening frame.
Each team scores in the second period to keep this a one-goal game. Past the halfway mark, the Silverbacks are pressing in the offensive zone when Wyatt Dreger cuts in front of the net and gets the deflection for his first career BCHL goal, tying up the game, 2-2. But a quick answer, 18 seconds later, has Brayden Sinclair roof one to regain the lead, 3-2.
Trail keeps scoring to remain in the lead after the third period. Eight minutes in, Ryan Oothoudt finishes off a rebound to make it a 4-2 game. Just past the 10 minute mark, Luke Lepper gets sprung on a brief break down the left wall where he absolutely wires home a beautiful shot, glove side top corner for his 4th of the year, cutting the lead, 4-3. Pulling the goalie, trying for a comeback, Christian Kim makes the Silverbacks pay by finding the open net, icing the game at 5-3.
Mikkel Christensen stops 29/33 in the loss.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
