Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks hosted the Okotoks Oilers for the final time this season.
The Oilers take the lead in a back-and-forth first period. A golden opportunity to start the game for the Silverbacks with back -to-back powerplays but can not take advantage. Five minutes in, Jordan Murray finds the loose puck in the high slot and wrists home the shot for the 1-0 lead. Another man advantage chance halfway through the period for Salmon Arm but it costs them as Jamie Hikida finishes off a two-on-one rush shorthanded to make it 2-0. On the same powerplay, getting revenege, Mateu Späth goes bar down with a beautiful shot for his 12th of the season, 2-1. Answering back with a powerplay goal of their own, Michael Kowalski regains the two goal lead, 3-1. With two minutes left, an offensive zone face off has the puck scrambled in front where Parker Deschene will swoop in and tap it in for his 2nd of the year, 3-2.
No scoring in a rough second period. Halfway through the middle frame, Booker Toninato drops the gloves with Cayden Joramo for his first career fight. Three minutes later, an awkward hit along the boards sees Ben Deacon go down injured and need medical assistance off the ice. During the scrum after, there were three roughing penalty’s and two ten-minute misconducts handed out.
Okotoks puts the game away in the third period. At the 13:22 mark, Holden Pajor gets behind the defenceman on a breakaway and makes no mistake, pushing the lead to 4-2. In the final couple of minutes, the Silverbacks pull the goalie for a comeback attempt but it gets thwarted when Joseph Meredith finds the empty net to make it a 5-2 final.
Mikkel Christensen makes 23/27 saves in the loss.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
