For the third time in four games, Salmon Arm and Vernon would need more than 60 minutes to decide a winner. It took nearly a second entire hockey game, but in triple overtime the Vernon Vipers won 4-3 and took the series 4-1.
Logan Cash got Vernon off to a quick start in Game 5 thanks to a hard working play from his linemate. The top line forward scored 53 seconds into the first period as Jesse Lansdell swung behind the goal, and his centring feed went in for the 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, a hard forecheck from Hudson Schandor caused a Vernon turnover, and Trevor Adams fired a shot that clanged in off the left post and in to even the score. Vipers captain Jagger Williamson had a breakaway thirty seconds after, but Ethan Langenegger came up with one of his 10 first period shots. In the dying seconds of the period, an odd man rush by Vernon was denied by 20 year old defenceman Andy Stevens from the Silverbacks.
With two goals in the regular season, Andy Stevens scored his third of the playoffs on a rebound to give Salmon Arm their first lead of the game five minutes into the second. With 11 minutes left, Ben Helgeson cut through the slot for Vernon but his shot was blocked and went over the goal. Less than two minutes later Logan Shaw scored his first of the playoffs for the Backs, as a shot from just inside the blueline went bar down. Jesse Lansdell nearly scored for Vernon shortly after, but with an open net to shoot at, his stick was tied up by Sam MacBean.
It was comeback time for Vernon in the third, and in the span of exactly two minutes, they scored a pair of goals to even the score at three. 1:27 in, a faceoff won back by the Vipers was blasted in by Michael Young who had three goals in the regular season against Salmon Arm. Two minutes later on a delayed power play, Jesse Lansdell drove behind the goal, and for the second time of the night centred the puck for a goal. This time it was Jack Judson who jumped up from the blueline to even the game. With 1:30 on the clock, Jagger Williamson drove the goal and thought he had put the Vipers ahead, but the goal was quickly waved off saying the net was off the moorings before the puck crossed the goal line.
There would be one power play in overtime, and it belonged to the Vernon Vipers. Driving the goal, Jesse Lansdell was knocked down putting his team up a man. It was a tense two minutes, but the Silverbacks killed it off. Hudson Schandor had the best chance for Salmon Arm in OT as he was sprung for a breakaway in the 6th period, but the diving defenceman came back and knocked him away. Vernon would seal their victory with Matt Kowalski playing hero. Coming down the right wing and cutting to the front of the goal, and lifted a shot into the top of the goal to send the Kal Tire Place fans home happy.
Friday night was the first time Salmon Arm went to a triple overtime since March 19th 2007 when they lost 2-1 to the Penticton Vees in the second round of playoffs. In BCHL records, the 116:56 of game time was the longest in Silverbacks history.
