Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks returned to Rogers Rink for game three against the Trail Smoke Eaters with a 2-0 series lead.
The Silverbacks come out firing on home ice in the first period. In the opening two minutes, Koen Senft tracks down the loose puck to the back post and throws it into the open net to take an early 1-0 lead with his first of the playoffs. After trading some roughing penalties, at the halfway mark in the frame the Silverbacks extend the lead when Richard Wonyeneh pokes home the puck in a scramble in the crease for his first career BCHL goal, 2-0.
Starting the comeback effort, the Smoke Eaters get back into the game in the second period. At the 8:30 mark, Anthony Cardilli drives down the left wing and snipes the top corner perfectly for his first goal of the playoffs, getting a much needed insurance goal, 3-0. 30 seconds later, Colton Whitfield benefits of an odd man rush when the puck hits off of him and into the net, 3-1. Striking again, two minutes later, Cash Carter rips a one-timer into the net, making it a one-goal game, 3-2.
The game goes to the final seconds in the third period. Coming out of the BCHL media timeout, Christian Kim scores his second of the playoffs and ties the game up with a shot top corner, 3-3. Just when it looks like this game is heading to overtime, the Smoke Eaters take a boarding penalty in the final 30 seconds. On the powerplay, Mateu Späth finds a back-door pass to a wide open Landon Mackie who fires the one-timer for the go ahead goal in the last 24 seconds. It is the first powerplay goal for either team in this series.
Extending the series lead, the Silverbacks go up 3-0.
Daniel Dirracolo makes 16/19 saves in the win.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
