The Silverbacks (25-15-4-3) begin a back-to-back, home-and-home set with the Merritt Centennials (17-26-1-4) at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm on Friday night at 7p.m.
The ‘Backs began the final month of the regular season with a 5-3 loss on the road to the Trail Smoke Eaters (20-28-0-2) on Tuesday, February 2nd. The Silverbacks are now 0-4-1-0 in their past five road games, winning last in Penticton 4-2 on January 9th and 4-0 in Wenatchee on January 8th.
Trail opened the scoring just past the midway mark of the opening period, before Chase Zieky’s 23rd of the season tied the score 1-1 at 15:38. Ross Heidt gave the Silverbacks their first and only lead of game with his 30th at 17:47. The Smoke Eaters tied the game 2-2 with 20 seconds remaining in the opening period, a power-play marker with Josh Laframboise off for slashing. The Silverbacks lead 14-13 on the shot clock in the first frame.
Trail took it’s lead back at 11:22 of the middle period, going ahead 3-2. And 4-2 Smoke Eaters at 18:35, with another power-play goal as Aryton Nikkel was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Silverbacks responded with a power-play goal of their own, Zieky’s second of the game and 24th of the season with four seconds remaining in the second period with former Silverback Connor Brown-Maloski was in the box for slashing.
The ‘Backs trailed 4-3 after 40 minutes and outshot the Smoke Eaters 13-11 in the middle period.
The lone goal of the final period put the home team ahead 5-3 at 17:13.
The Silverbacks outshot Trail 7-6 in the third and the visitors finished ahead 36-30 on the shot clock total.
The ‘Backs power-play was 1-for-5, while the penalty-kill was 3-for-5.
Brandon Kegler started and took the loss in goal on Tuesday. Carson Bolduc, Ryley Booth and Cam Coutre didn’t make the trip.
The Silverbacks now have two wins and two regulation losses with Trail and will host the Smoke Eaters on Tuesday, February 9th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in the second of four meetings this month.
The Silverbacks have a record of 2-5-2-1 in their last 10 games, now 12-10-1-1 on the road, 13-5-3-2 on home ice and 15-7-1-3 versus the Interior Division.
The Centennials have a record of 4-3-1-2 in their last 10, 9-15-1-0 on the road, and 11-15-1-2 versus the Interior Division. Merritt last played on January 30th, winning 5-2 in Prince George.
The ‘Backs and Cents played to a 5-5 tie in their last meeting on January 19th in Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks lead the season series with the Centennials, 3-1-1-0.
The Silverbacks will travel to Merritt on Saturday for the back half of the home-and-home which will begin at 7:30p.m. at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Each Silverbacks and BCHL game is webcast live, PPV http://bchl.fasthockey.com as well as each ‘Backs road game is broadcast live at CKVS 93.7 FM http://voiceoftheshuswap.ca Each home game is broadcast at http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 Tune into CKVS each Monday night throughout the season beginning at 7p.m. for 30 minutes or more of Silverbacks talk, including interviews and news from around the BCHL.
~Ian Douglas
