The Silverbacks (29-17-4-4) visit the Trail Smoke Eaters (22-32-0-2) tonight at 7:30p.m., in the fourth meeting of the month and seventh and final regular season matchup between the two teams. The Silverbacks take a road record of 15-11-1-1 into the West Kootenay, where the Smoke Eaters are 14-10-0-1 on home ice and are scrambling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Interior.
The Vernon Vipers (22-30-0-3) and the Merritt Centennials (21-30-1-4) each have 47 points, one point ahead of the Smokies. The Vipers have one game in hand on the both the Cents and Trail, but Vernon is in action at home tonight to the Surrey Eagles (7-45-2-0).
The ‘Backs lead the season series with the Smoke Eaters with a record of 3-2-0-1, and tonight will be the fourth meeting of month. The Silverbacks won 9-3 at home over Trail on February 9th, and fell 5-3 in Trail on February 2nd.
The West Kelowna Warriors (37-17-1-2) won 5-4 at home over the Vipers on Friday, as the Warriors secured second place in the Interior and home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The ‘Backs sit third, 10 points behind WK with three games remaining. The Warriors have just one regular season game remaining as they will host Silverbacks this weekend.
The Silverbacks have a record of 4-3-0-2 in the final month of the regular season, 5-3-0-2 in their last 10 games and 17-8-1-5 versus the Interior Division. The Smoke Eaters are 3-4-0-0 in February, 3-7-0-0 in their last 10, 7-22-0-1 on the road and 10-21-0-1 versus the division.
The ‘Backs have dropped their last three games, after back-to-back losses on home ice this past weekend at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks fell 5-4 in overtime to the Smoke Eaters on Saturday night, after taking a 3-0 lead early in the second period before allowing four consecutive goals.
The ‘Backs dropped a 3-2 decision on Friday at home to the Penticton Vees (48-6-1-0). The Silverbacks last win was a 3-0 victory on the road over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (21-27-4-4) on February 13th, as the ‘Backs put together four consecutive wins earlier in the month.
The Silverbacks will finish the regular season with back-to-back games, beginning on Friday on the road versus the West Kelowna Warriors at 7p.m. The ‘Backs will host the Penticton Vees on Saturday, February 27th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks and Warriors will meet in the first round of the BCHL playoffs with the first two games set for March 4th and 5th, Friday and Saturday in West Kelowna before games three and four on Monday and Tuesday, March 7th and 8th at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The first four games of the Best-of-7 Interior Division semi-final will begin at 7p.m.
Playoff tickets are available at the Silverbacks ticket office at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. Adults $13, Seniors $11, Students/Child $6, and 5-years-old and under permitted free but must be seated on a parent’s lap and must not take up a seat. Games 1 and 2 are set for Friday and Saturday, March 5th and 6th with games 3 and 4 of the Best-of-7 series on Tuesday, March 8th and Wednesday, March 9th. Each game will start at 7p.m. For more information please contact the Silverbacks Office at 250-832-3856
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.
