Salmon Arm B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks needed some late-game heroics on Tuesday night in West Kelowna to edge the Warriors 4-3 in overtime and keep their win streak alive.
They are now a perfect 6-0 on the season.
GAME SUMMARY
The first period wasn’t the strongest for the Backs — partly because they were in the penalty box so often — and for the first time this season, they surrendered the game’s first goal. Levi Stauber potted home a rebound just as a 5-on-3 Warriors power play turned into a 5-on-4. Three minutes later, however, Silverbacks captain Akito Hirose would one-time a point shot off goaltender Brock Baier’s glove and into the net to tie the game 1-1.
In the second, the Warriors re-took the lead just two minutes in after Drew Vietan buried a rebound from the slot to make it 2-1. Several minutes later, the Backs would get even once more after a Hunter Sansbury snap shot from the blue line was tipped in by forward Josh Zinger for his first career BCHL goal (at first, it appeared Sansbury had his first career BCHL goal, but afterwards it was determined Zinger tipped it).
It didn’t take West Kelowna long to respond this time. Winger Rob Christy notched his first career goal under four minutes later right off a face-off, beating Ethan Langenegger blocker side. Christy’s goal meant the Backs went into the second intermission trailing for just the second time this season.
The third period was by far the Silverbacks best, as they fired a total of 19 shots on Baier, who was tremendous in goal for the home side. His numerous saves included stopping Daniel Rybarik on a penalty shot with under seven minutes to go. Finally, with 1:12 remaining and Langenegger about to head to the bench for the extra attacker, Drew Bennett tallied his first career BCHL goal from right in front of the net to tie the game 3-3.
In overtime, Salmon Arm rookie Jayden Price was taken down while in all alone, resulting in yet another penalty shot for the Backs. Unfortunately, despite an impressive forward-backhand-forward move, Baier stopped him with his right pad. Not long after, with under 10 seconds to go — right when it looked like things were headed to the shootout — Hirose fed a cross-ice pass to Will Poirier who one-timed it past Baier to give the Silverbacks the overtime victory.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
Drew Bennett, SA Silverbacks: Bennett scored his first career goal late in the third period from his ‘office’: right in front of the goal. All night long, he was trying to get into Baier’s grill and disrupt his game. The Newfoundland product does a lot of little things extremely well and although he doesn’t have the points that linemates Rybarik and Noah Wakeford do, he’s still an key cog for the team up front.
Akito Hirose, Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Hirose had a three-point night that included a primary assist on the overtime winner. He has been at his best in the two 3-on-3 overtimes this season because of how well he skates and sees the ice. The captain easily could have had more points. Earlier in the game, Hirose dropped a beautiful behind the back pass to Simon Tassy who was stoned by Baier.
Brock Baier, West Kelowna Warriors: Baier was tremendous in the third period in particular, when he faced 19 shots and only allowed one goal. Not only was he the only reason the Backs didn’t complete the comeback in regulation, but he stopped the Backs on two separate penalty shots.
STAT OF THE GAME
Poirier GWG with 6.7 seconds left: For the second time this season, the Silverbacks scored an overtime goal with less than 10 seconds left.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Silverbacks host the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday at 7 p.m. and then they head to the mainland to take on the Coquitlam Express on Saturday.
As always, the pre-game show on 91.5 EZ Rock will kick off 30 minutes before puck drop. Fans can stream all games on HockeyTV.
For tickets to Friday’s game, click here.
