Revenge feels good.
After being swept in the 2018 playoffs by the Vernon Vipers, Salmon Arm won big on Friday night. With a 5-3 win in Kal Tire Place, the Silverbacks took a 1-0 series lead over the Vernon Vipers.
The large Salmon Arm cheering section was on their feet just 1:59 into the first period with Jonathan Krahn scoring on a two-on-one. Scoring four goals in the regular season, Krahn had two of those against the Vipers and his shot inside the left post made it a third on the year. The Silverbacks had a chance to go ahead by two midway through the period on a power play, but the early best chance belonged to the Vipers. Sprung on a shorthanded breakaway, former Silverback Josh Latta rung a shot off the crossbar. A minute later while on the power play still, Andy Stevens from the right faceoff circled fired a shot into the top left corner for a 2-0 lead. Jack Sampson had a chance with three minutes to go to extend the visitors lead to three, but Aidan Porter from his rear end made the save.
Sampson would redeem himself on his first shift of the second frame though off a faceoff. Trevor Adams won it back, Nick Unruh took the shot, and Sampson was there to bat in the rebound scoring in his first BCHL playoff game. Vernon fans would finally get to their feet three minutes into the third on a power play goal from Jesse Lansdell. Lane Zablocki found the Vernon forward in front of the goal for a tap in making it 3-1. 20 seconds later though it was the Salmon Arm fans cheering as a shot from the ringette line by John Little restored the three goal lead at 4-1. Allowing four goals on 15 shots, Aidan Porter was pulled in favour of Bradley Cooper. Things didn’t get off to a good start for Coopers as Salmon Arm scored on their first sequence against the goalie that played them twice as a member of the Prince George Spruce Kings.
On their second power play of the game, a point shot from Akito Hirose rebounded out and Trevor Adams who led the team in regular season scoring against the Vipers (three goals and four assists) knocked in to make it 5-1. Vernon would score a late goal from their captain Jagger Williamson who was setup in the slot from Jesse Lansdell who drove behind the net and centred the puck.
Vernon would get a third goal in the final 20 minutes from Williamson again, and pull the goalie but were unable to beat Ethan Langenegger who finished the night with 34 saves on 37 shots. The biggest save came with 4:50 left on a one timer blast from Michael Young who led the Vipers in goal scoring against Salmon Arm in the regular season with three goals. Langenegger is now a perfect 4-0 this season against the Vernon Vipers.
Game 2 goes tomorrow night in Vernon at 6pm. Pre-Game Show on 91.5 EZ Rock kicks off at 5:45. Tickets for Games 3 and 4 in Salmon Arm will be available Saturday from 10am-3pm in the Shaw Centre box office and Sunday from 12pm-3pm.
KEY PERFORMER:
It was a team effort Friday night for the Silverbacks. Five different goal scorers contributed, the backend was sturdy all night, and Ethan Langenegger was great in goal. That’s what playoff is all about, and what Salmon Arm will need if they want to win this round.
