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Vipers Opportunistic in 5-2 Win Over Backs

PHOTO: LISA MAZUREK PHOTOGRAPHY

Vernon, B.C. — For the first time since opening night, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Vernon Vipers did not need overtime to decide Tuesday’s game, with the Vipers coming away with a 5-2 victory.

The Backs record is now 5-3-3, while the Vipers hop the Backs for first place with the win and are now 6-3-1.

GAME SUMMARY

The Silverbacks came flying out of the gate in this one, out-shooting the Vipers 15-3 in the opening frame.

For the ninth time in 11 games thus far, they also opened the scoring. This time, it was a fresh face, as rookie defenceman Tucker Hartmann blasted a one-timer from the point past the glove side of goaltender Roan Clarke.

After 20 minutes, Salmon Arm held a 1-0 lead.

The Vipers opportunistic side showed itself in the second when they scored twice within a 46-second span to quickly take the lead at the 6:38 mark. First, Logan Lorenz found a loose puck in front and potted it home and then Tyler Carpendale scored on a rebound as well.

But before the second period was done, Drew Bennett scored a massive tying goal with just 22.8 seconds remaining in the frame. Hunter Sansbury fired a long stretch pass up the left wing side to Cameron Recchi, who dangled the defender and got a shot off that was stopped, but there was Bennett to clean up the mess and even the score 2-2.

Just 1:10 into the third, Carpendale gave the Vipers the lead again after a costly Backs’ turnover in the corner.

Six minutes later, Griffen Barr scored a highlight reel goal, pulling off an impressive deke on an odd-man rush and finishing off on his backhand to make the score 4-2.

After that, the Vipers shut things down extremely well, and added an empty-netter to make it a 5-2 final.

For the full boxscore from Tuesday, click here.

THEY SAID IT

“This was a tough one…Tonight’s a night where we start well. We play hard in the first period and control pretty much the first half of the game. I’ll give them credit — even when we were controlling the pace and kind of dictating the game, they weren’t really giving up much. They were strong structurally. Didn’t make a lot of mistakes and were kind of able to weather our storm there. Then they were opportunistic, which they have been against us all year and they were able to capitalize on a few of our mistakes.” – Assistant coach Carter Cochrane

SASCU 3 STARS

  1. Tyler Carpendale – VER – 2G, 1A
  2. Griffen Barr – VER – 2G,
  3. Roan Clarke – VER – 33/35

FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME

Kieran Ruscheinski – SA – Too many blocks to count

WHAT’S NEXT

The Silverbacks are right back at it tomorrow, when they’ll take on the Warriors for their sixth game in the past eight days.

Fans can stream all games on BCHL TV!