Overtime has not been nice to the Vernon Vipers.
For the second game in a row, Salmon Arm came back from a 2-0 lead, this time beating the Vernon Vipers. That dropped the OT record for Vernon to 0-4 on the season.
The Vipers started the game hot scoring twice in the first 15 minutes to lead 2-0. Alex Swetlikoff parked himself in front of the net, and was able to knock in a centring pass from Ben Helgeson who was behind the goal. On the power play, Connor Marritt scored his second goal of the season to double the lead for Vernon. A late goal for Salmon Arm put some life in the Shaw Centre as Matthew Verboon a puck out front for Trevor Adams who was able to knock the puck past Aidan Porter.
Trevor Adams nearly evened the game early in the middle period as he came out of the penalty box for a breakaway but was stopped by Porter. A broken play led to Vernon restoring their two goal lead seven minutes later. Two players for Vernon drove the goal trying to get a shot off, and it wound up dropping back above the circles. Ben Helgeson swooped in and wired a shot past the confused Ethan Langenegger. A minute later Swetlikoff came down on a breakaway, but Langenegger denied the potential NHL draft pick in this upcoming NHL draft.
Salmon Arm worked their way within a goal late in the second on the power play. Nick Unruh kept his hot hand scoring on the power play. Jamming the puck towards the net, it would up in the air and riding off the back of Porter in goal and into the net.
A three-on-one just past the halfway mark of the third was thwarted by Langenegger, and that would come back to bite the Vipers. On another power play, Nick Unruh kept control of the puck, and from the top of the circles wired one into the net for his sixth goal in the last three homes games. Salmon Arm would head to a late man advantage, but were unable to capitalize and keep Vernon from earning any points.
In overtime, one big play led to another. Ethan Langenegger stopped another breakaway from Alex Swetlikoff, and that turned play the other way for Olson Werenka. Charging up the right wing, the defenseman sent the pass across on a two-on-one that was finished off by Hudson Schandor to finish off. The 4-3 win was the first overtime victory for the Silverbacks. They did have one shootout win to their name from last weekend against the Penticton Vees.
Fast Facts:
- First win by the Silverbacks in the Shaw Centre against Vernon since January 30th 2016. Seven losses in a row including playoffs from last season.
- Silverbacks continue rolling at home with best home record in the league at 7-1-1.
Key Performers:
- For the second game in a row, this honour has to go to Nick Unruh. It took him eleven games to score, but since then he has been on fire. Home ice has been especially nice with six goals in the last three games. Down 3-1, his two goals were what brought Salmon Arm to overtime.
- A few unlucky bounces went against him, but Ethan Langenegger was a true star in this game. Named the second star of the game, he certainly had a case for number one stopping two breakaways against Alex Swetlikoff who is expected to be drafted to the NHL this Spring. He also stopped a three on one which again was key to keeping his team in the game.
