Silverbacks Survive Viper Onslaught:

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Silverbacks survive Viper onslaught

by don klepp | Added 2010-01-01

Two goals in the first minute of the game propelled the hometown Salmon Arm Silverbacks to a 4-2 win over the Vernon Vipers Thursday afternoon. Another goal with four seconds left in the second period and an empty netter maintained that advantage over the Vipers who were stymied by goalie Tony Ierfino.

Smarting from Tuesday’s 7-3 drubbing by Westside, the “Backs started the game with a ferocious forecheck that resulted in two goals in the first minute. Mark Zengerle opened the scoring at the 29 second mark, following a scramble in front of Graeme Gordon.

Salmon Arm continued to exert pressure, which resulted in another scramble and another score 34 seconds later. Graeme Gordon claimed he was knocked down by a Silverback, but referee Steve Papp allowed the goal that was bundled in by Josh Manson.

Manson, who played a strong game with fellow bangers Bobby Lipsett and Devin Gannon, was named second star of the game. First star honours were earned by ‘Backs goalie Tony Ierfino, who prevented the resurgent Vipers from recovering from their early deficit. Early in the opening period, the shot total favoured the Silverbacks, 9-1, but from that point on, the Vipers initiated the play and they out shot their hosts 27 to 11.

The Vipers got one back on a five-on-three power play after Steve Papp drew the crowd’s ire for calling an elbowing penalty on Jayson Reardon’s big hit on Cole Ikkala. While set up on his wrong wing, Connor Jones threaded a pass cross ice to Jonathan Milhouse whose one-timer beat Ierfino. The Vipers were unable to solve Ierfino for the remainder of that penalty and a subsequent call on Josh Manson,

Vernon continued to carry the play in the second period, but Ierfino decided the contest with splendid saves on Braden Pimm, Cole Ikkala, and Connor Jones. Meanwhile, the Silverbacks notched the only goal of the period on just their second shot of the frame. With less than a minute left on Adam Thompson’s four-minute high sticking penalty, and only four seconds left in the period, Zengerle’s shot glanced off David Killip past Gordon, who was screened on the play.

The Silverbacks sat back early in the third period and the Vipers mounted rush after rush. Two goals down, Viper defencemen jumped into the play and pinched at the blue line. That strategy paid off when Steve Weinstein joined a rush and converted Braden Pimm’s nifty pass at Ierfino’s goal mouth at 8:05.

For the remainder of the period, the Vipers maintained their furious assault, but Tony Ierfino held the fort, and the Vipers missed the net on several occasions. As Viper Rob Short explained after the game, “the game wasn’t lost when they scored those two quick goals at the beginning. We lost because we didn’t convert our chances.”

Short’s analysis was correct. The Vipers had 13 gilt edged scoring chances in the second and third periods, while the Silverbacks had just 3. The only Salmon Arm scoring chance in the third resulted in an empty net goal by David Killip with 22 seconds remaining in the game.

This game had a bit of everything – spirited rushes, bone crunching body checks, and strong goaltending. Saturday’s sequel in Vernon promises to be another close, exciting contest.

Game Notes:

• For the first time this season, Vernon lost a road game in regulation.

• The Silverbacks finished with two wins in their eight-game home stand and their first win against the Vipers in five tries this season.

• The Penticton Vees defeated Westside 5-2 Thursday and closed to within four points of the first-place Vipers.