Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks wrapped up the weekend on the road, looking for revenge against the Spruce Grove Saints.
The Saints attack early in the first period. Three minutes in, Adam Perron hammers home the rebound to make it an early 1-0 lead. The Silverbacks take the lone penalty of the period and regret it when Brandon Funk scores the powerplay goal, 2-0. Before the period is over, Tate O’Brien takes the puck away in the neutral zone and snipes the puck, post and in, for his second of the season, getting the Silverbacks on the board, 2-1.
Adding onto their lead in the second period, the Saints score twice as the rough stuff begins. To start the period, the Silverbacks can’t capitalize on their first powerplay of the game. About six minutes in, Declan Waddick pokes home another goal for the Saints, 3-1. Answering back is Cole Longacre, streaking down the right wing and snapping one five-hole, his 3rd of the year, 3-2. Action goes to four-on-four with some roughing calls handed out but then the Silverbacks take back-to-back penalties making it extended time short handed. Brandon Funk would score his second powerplay goal of the game, regaining the two goal lead, 4-2. In the final seven seconds, Mateu Späth throws a big hit and then has to answer for it with a fight against Owen Leckelt.
Sealing the win, Spruce Grove scores two more as the game ends in a disaster. Junior Podein sneaks behind the defenceman and adds onto the lead, 5-2. Max Holland gets his third goal of the weekend, six minutes later, to push the lead further, 6-2. Three straight penalties back-and-forth send the Silverbacks on the powerplay. Snapping a scoreless powerplay streak, Scott Miner riffles a one-timer into the back of the net for his 4th of the season, 6-3. To end the game, frustration boils over and the teams get physical. In the final seven seconds, Koen Senft and Brett Barnes are shown the gates with roughing penalties. On the ensuing faceoff, Tanner Walos and Robert Fedor drop the gloves and look to square off but the referees hold them back. As the buzzer sounds, a line brawl ensues as a total of 7 game misconducts are handed out between the two teams, capping it off with a goalie fight between Mikkel Christensen and Ryan De Kok.
Christensen stops 21/27 shots faced in the loss.
