Salmon Arm will be looking to continue their streak in Penticton tonight. Last time these two sides met, it was the final game of the 2017-18 regular season with the Silverbacks winning 5-4 thanks to an overtime goal from Tanner Campbell.
Two weeks ago, Salmon Arm was one of the least up and down teams in the BCHL. They hadn’t seen a losing streak go beyond two games, but they also hadn’t put together more than two wins in a row. Heading into the match tonight, they are winners of four straight, and sit third in the Interior Division. The last three wins have been by just one goal, and the win to start the streak was a 4-2 comeback thriller against Trail.
Struggling on the road, the Backs have reeled off two straight in very tough buildings. It was a hostile environment in Vernon on Halloween, and last Saturday they knocked off the Chilliwack Chiefs who had just one home loss and the best points percentage in the league at home (that honour now belongs to Salmon Arm). Heading into the Vernon game, Salmon Arm had eight goals scored in six road games. In the last two games they now have eight goals away from the Shaw Centre.
Penticton has the second best point percentage at home in the Interior, going 7-2-1 in the South Okanagan Events Centre. In 10 home games, they have outscored the opposition 35-20. Wednesday night in Vernon they were able to defeat the Vipers 3-2 on a quick overtime goal 32 seconds in from Eric Linell. All three goals scored were on the power play. The Penticton Vees appear to go as their top three players go. Forwards Linell, David Silye, and defenceman James Miller have combined for 74 points in 62 combined games, and
Players to Watch:
Silverbacks: Last time he played the Vees, Nick Unruh scored his first goal of the season to kick off a hot stretch where he had six goals in four games. He setup the last goal in Penticton for Salmon Arm getting the primary assist on the Tanner Campbell OT winner. Saturday he scored the game winner against the Chilliwack Chiefs which was also his first goal on the road this season. After one point in his first eight game, Unruh now has 11 in his last 11 games. Held without a goal for six games in a row, Matthew Verboon has now scored in his last three games plus the shootout winner he had against Vernon. In those three games he has five points altogether. Verboon leads the Silverbacks in scoring this season with 19 points in 20 games.
Vees: Missing the first game due to injury, Massimo Rizzo will be back Friday against Salmon Arm. In his four games back, the former Burnaby Winter Club star has three points. Committed to North Dakota, Rizzo is a B ranked prospect for the 2019 NHL Draft. Prior to scoring changes, it looked as if Salmon Arm had shutout David Silye for the first time this season. He was later awarded a pair of assists. Shortly after that he went on a three game point drought but has since bounced back with four points in the last four games. Scoring five goals in his first seven games, he now has just two in the last 13 games.
TUNE IN
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