Both teams coming off big wins last night should make for a great Sunday afternoon game.
Down 2-0 heading to the third period, Salmon Arm made a glorious comeback tying the game with 2:08 on the clock and scoring 27 seconds later to beat the Trail Smoke Eaters. Starting in his first BCHL game last night, Matthew Armitage was busy stopping 31 of 33 shots. The only two goals that got past him were on the power play. Aiden Jenner tied the game on the Silverbacks lone power play in the third period, and won a faceoff back moments later to setup Sam MacBean’s first BCHL goal which stood as the winner.
The Prince George Spruce Kings emerge from Wenatchee ending a streak that started since the Wild entered the league. Prince George had never won in the Town Toyota Center, and the last two playoff exits for the Spruce Kings were in the Town Toyota Center. A heartbreaking last minute collapse in the 2017 playoffs ended the year in Game 6 of the first round, and last year it was Wenatchee winning the Fred Page Cup on home ice. With a win on Friday these Silverbacks will surely be tired with all the travel, but shouldn’t be overlooked. This has been a tough roadtrip, and six points in 2.5 days would do great for the confidence.
These two teams met just two weeks ago in Prince George with the Spruce Kings winning 5-0. That scoreline is very deceiving though with the game stuck at 2-0 15 minutes into the third period. Having played to a shootout the night before against the Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm then had to make the nine hour journey to Prince George the following day. Penalties were a HUGE factor for Salmon Arm taking 25 minutes in penalties. There were five power plays in the first period alone for Prince George although they weren’t able to score on any of those. A game winning goal and assist in the game, made for the first multi-point game for Corey Cunningham who is from Prince George.
Players to Watch:
Silverbacks: Back last night from a four game suspension he received for a hit in in Prince George, Sol Seibel will play his second game in as many days. Both teams are playing their third game in 2.5 days, so that could prove as an advantage for the Captain who hasn’t played much recently and should still have some relatively fresh legs. Last night against Trail he had one penalty and no points. Scoring his first BCHL goal last night, let’s see if Sam MacBean can make it two in a row! As the season has progressed it seems he has earned more and more trust from the Silverbacks coaching staff now taking some shifts on the power play unit. The big man will need to play his size against a Spruce Kings forward core that features a number of sizeable forwards.
Spruce Kings: Having pitched a shutout in Prince George against Salmon Arm, look for Bradley Cooper to get the start in net this afternoon. Logan Neaton has played both games this road trip for the Spruce Kings, and with such a heavy travel schedule you’d have to think they go back to Cooper in this game. The netminder in seven games this seaosn has been very hot or cold. In five games played, he has two shutouts and the other three games he has allowed a combined 10 goals in about seven periods of work. Up in Prince George, Dustin Manz was a very chatty player on the ice. His bite matched his bark though with a goal and assist in that game. After a slow start to his season with four points in the first nine games, Manz is currently riding a nine game point streak where he has collected 14 points.
TUNE IN
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