Salmon Arm, B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks picked up their 20th win of the season on Sunday afternoon in their Teddy Bear Toss game, thanks to a 7-4 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Their record now stands at 20-14-2, good for third place in the Interior Division.
GAME SUMMARY
The Smoke Eaters opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the game, after defenceman Powell Connor walked right into the slot and ripped a shot top shelf for his fifth of the season. Later in the period, the Smoke Eaters would double their lead thanks to a power play marker from captain Philippe Lapointe.
Just 44 seconds after Lapointe extended the lead, Silverbacks forward Daniel Rybarik stuffed home a rebound to make it a 2-1 game, while bringing the teddy bears onto the ice at the same time.
After one period of play, the shots on goal were 17 apiece.
Three minutes into the second period, Logan Shaw drove wide down the right wing and cut to the net, potting home a backhander to tie the game 2-2.
The Backs would continue to pour on the pressure and took their first lead of the game at the 9:31 mark of the second, after an Akito Hirose power play goal.
The Smoke Eaters would get a power play of their own late in the period and converted for the second time, after Owen Ozar sniped to the top corner on an odd-man rush. After 40 minutes, the score was tied 3-3, with Salmon Arm leading in shots 31-21.
Just over five minutes into the third, the Backs took the lead back, this time on Hirose’s second of the game and seventh of the season.
Over a minute later, Shaw gave the Silverbacks needed insurance, stealing a puck from Jameson Murray and driving wide down the left wing, before backhanding one top corner past the glove of goaltender Matteo Paler-Chow.
Although Kent Johnson converted on a 5-on-3 powerplay at the 12:29 mark of the third to cut the Backs lead to 5-4, Daniel Rybarik put the game to bed with 2:50 left after he drove to the net and stuffed it home to give his club a 6-4 lead.
Luke Mylymok added an empty-netter with 1.5 seconds left to make it a 7-4 final.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
Logan Shaw, Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Shaw doubled his goal total on the season in one game, first tying the game 2-2 early in the second and then giving the Backs an insurance marker six minutes into the third. Both his goals came courtesy of the backhand.
Akito Hirose, Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Hirose did everything on Sunday afternoon, not only by tallying his first multi-goal game of the season, but also by creating plenty of offence from the blueline. He now leads the team once again in points with 36.
Daniel Rybarik, Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Rybarik was the third Silverback player to finish with two goals, netting his 17th and 18th of the year. Fifteen of his goals have come at even-strength.
For the full boxscore, click here.
STAT OF THE GAME
11 total goals: This game was straight up entertainment all night long, and mostly because of the offence. While the game also had plenty of saves and two fights, it was the goal scoring that gave the fans their money’s worth.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Silverbacks now have almost two weeks off for the winter holidays. Their next game is Dec. 28 in Vernon against the Vipers. They then have a rematch against Vernon at the Shaw Centre on Sunday, December 29 at 3 p.m.
The contests can be heard on 91.5 EZ Rock with the pre-game show starting half an hour before puck drop. Fans can also stream the games on HockeyTV.
