For the second game in a row it was special teams making the difference. This time though it wasn’t in favour of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks as they dropped 6-3 final to the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Of the nine goals, just three weren’t scored on special teams. The Silverbacks power play scored twice and allowed one shorthanded goal while the Smokies scored three power play goals on nine chances.
In Trail it was the home side who started the scoring three minutes into the game. On the power play, Hayden Rowan received a backdoor pass, and was able to beat Devin Chapman who was making his first BCHL start. Salmon Arm would reply 30 seconds after that was Tyson Gayfer scored his first BCHL goal. John Little dumped the puck into the left corner, and the puck popped out into the top of the crease for Gayfer to jam up to tie the game.
Nine minutes in the Silverbacks would take their first lead on their first power play. With former Smoke Eater Olson Werenka parked in front as a net front presence, the big defenceman was able to battle a rebound over to Hudson Schandor who scored his second power play goal in as many games. The visitors got in penalty trouble late in the frame heading to the box twice. Trail would capitalize once as Diarmad Dimurro went behind the net with the puck, and dropped it back for Levi Glasman to knock in with 2:58 on the clock to tie the game.
The second wasn’t friendly to the Silverbacks as they would take four trips to the penalty box. The most frustrating was Trevor Adams racing after a puck for a breakaway, but Adam Marcoux came out to play the puck between the faceoff circles. The two collided, and Adams was sent to the box for goaltender interference. That would give Trail a 5-on-3 with a Silverback already in the box. 16 year old Kent Johnson would finish off a nice passing play with all the extra room to restore the Trail lead at 3-2. With a minute to go in the period, a poor line change for Salmon Arm led to a 2-on-0 for Trail with the play being finished off by Mack Byers.
The Backs made things interesting in the third as Trevor Adams scored his first of the season on a 5-on3 power play to make it a 4-3 game with 13 minutes left. On the ensuing 5-on-4 power play though it was Trail capitalizing. Levi Glasman was sprung on a breakaway, and the second year forward made no mistake tallying his second goal of the game. The home side would seal it two minutes later as defenceman Trevor Zins jumped into the play for an odd man rush and scored to make it 6-3.
Salmon Arm look to keep their undefeated home record intact tonight as they take on the same Merritt Centennials they beat 4-2 last week. The Centennials are coming off a big win Friday night knocking off the reigning Fred Page Cup Champions Wenatchee Wild 7-5. Tickets are available at the Shaw Centre Box office and Maximum Edge hockey shop during the day. Pre-game for the 91.5 EZ Rock and HockeyTV show begin at 6:45.
