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Vees Edge Backs 2-1

Salmon Arm, B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks fell 2-1 to the Penticton Vees on Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre, despite out-shooting the home side 30-25.

Salmon Arm’s record now stands at 23-19-2 , one point back of the Vernon Vipers for third place in the Interior Division. The Vipers and Backs go head-to-head tomorrow afternoon at Kal Tire Place at 2 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY

The Vees came out strong in the first period but then took a penalty to give the momentum back to the Silverbacks. After goaltender Yaniv Perets stopped Silverbacks forward Luke Mylymok a couple times on the ensuing power play, Vees defenceman Steve Holtz intercepted a pass at his own blue line and raced down the ice, scoring on a shorthanded break to give Penticton a 1-0 lead.

The momentum continued to go back and forth between the two for much of the period, but the Silverbacks drew another power play at the 16:46 mark of the first. This time, they converted on the power play, after Akito Hirose’s cross-ice pass found Nick Unruh, whose second attempt beat Perets to the glove side to tie the game.

The Silverbacks out-shot Penticton 11-8 in the opening frame and entered the break all square 1-1.

Salmon Arm had a power play to begin the second period but couldn’t convert and three minutes later, the Vees re-took the lead courtesy of Tristan Amonte, who chipped a shot to shelf off the ends boards after his first redirection missed the net.

The remainder of the period remained tight, with each side getting just a few chances and the score remaining the same. The Backs were leading in shots 20-18 after two periods of play.

Both teams played strong defensively in the third, resulting in few offensive opportunities. Backs forward Lucas Breault did break through the defence early in the frame, but rung one off the cross-bar. With 4:41 to go in the game, Salmon Arm got another power play opportunity, during which Noah Wakeford had a glorious opportunity at the side of the net, but a diving Jack Barnes got in the way to partially block the shot at the last second and send it over the net.

The Backs got the goalie pulled with 30 seconds to go, but couldn’t the equalizer, falling 2-1.

TOP PERFORMERS

Bennett, Martino, Wolford line— Salmon Arm Silverbacks: This line was excellent at controlling the play below the goal line in the offensive zone. They worked hard at digging for pucks and protecting it when they had it.

Asst. coach Carter Cochrane on the trio : “Just high energy guys at all times. They  played really well. They probably spent the most time in the offensive zone, just working pucks below the goal line, behind the net. They’re hard to play against — physical.”

Hunter Sansbury — Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Sansbury’s physical game was on full display in this one, especially early on when he stepped up at his own blue line on Vees captain David Silye. He also recorded a secondary assist on Unruh’s power play marker.

Cochrane on : “Hunter Sansbury I thought was probably the most noticeable guy on the ice at all times. I think the Penticton guys are definitely going to be having nightmares about him. He’s a physical guy, he’s hard to play against and I thought he did a lot of good things for us there.”

Nick Unruh — Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Unruh scored his 10th goal of the season and could have had a couple more, including in the final seconds when he just missed the net.

Cochrane on Unruh “It was nice to see him pot another one today. Like I said before, once he starts scoring, he’s a hard guy to stop.”

For the full boxscore, click here.

STAT OF THE GAME

PP 1-for-5: The Backs had a couple opportunities in the second and third period to draw even on the power play, but they just couldn’t convert.

Cochrane on the lack of offence :

“I think it was a really good defensive effort from both teams. As much as it might have seemed like things got locked down in the third — I think both teams did a really good job of limiting offence, both teams were held under 10 chances,  but that being said I think it was still an exciting game to watch. There was lots of action going back and forth. It was a really high pace game. There was a ton of intensity. It was a playoff atmosphere, a playoff style game.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The Silverbacks wrap up the season series with the Vernon Vipers on Sunday afternoon, with puck drop set for 2 p.m.

Next weekend they head to the Island for games with Powell River and Victoria on Friday and Saturday and then wrap up the 3-in-3 with a Sunday matinee in Surrey against the Eagles.

The games can be heard on 91.5 EZ Rock with the pre-game show starting half an hour before puck drop. Fans can also stream the game on HockeyTV.