Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks hit the road for a rare weekday game against the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Silverbacks escaped a high offense attack in the first period only down by one. Seven and a half minutes in, Ty Paisley was sent to the box for tripping but the Silverbacks were able to start the game 1/1 on the penalty kill. With two minutes to go in the period, Reid Varkonyi took a rare face-off violation penalty. Isaiah Norlin took advantage of the opportunity, picking the top corner to give the Warriors the one goal lead after the first period. In the first 20 minutes, the Warriors out shot the Silverbacks 17-8.
The ice tilted in the second period and it was the Silverbacks turn to go on the attack. Tristan Allen was sent to the penalty box in the first 20 seconds for a slashing penalty, which the Silverbacks were able to kill off. Right when Allen was stepping out of the box, JJ Monteiro forced an offensive zone turnover and beat the goalie on a brief breakaway to tie up the game. The Warriors were able to regain the lead four minutes later when a misplay of the puck turned into the puck on Trent Wilsons stick right in front of an empty net. Once again the Silverbacks were able to tie up the game when Maddux Martin was the last to touch the puck in a scramble in the crease to push in into the twine. In the second period, the Silverbacks outshot the Warriors, 17-6.
The third period was back and forth with both teams taking a couple of penalties but neither was able to find the back of the net. This game was headed to overtime.
Three-on-three overtime for ten minutes led to no goals either, with both teams have multiple rush attempts.
For the first time in the 2023/24 season, the Silverbacks were headed to an overtime. There was only one goal in the three rounds of overtime and it came off the tape of Isaiah Norlin to win the game. Shooting for the Silverbacks was Ty Paisley, Jacob Bonkowski, and JJ Monteiro.
Eli Pulver made 36/38 saves in the losing effort.
(Photo credit: Tami Quan)
