Opportunistic Silverbacks Win Series Opener:

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Opportunistic Silverbacks win series opener

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-03-18

In a game where they were outplayed for long stretches, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks did what the good teams do – they eked out a 5-3 win in the first game of the Interior Division final series in Vernon.

The opening four minutes provided a microcosm of the game and of the games between the two teams this year.

The Vipers were all over the Silverbacks in the early going, with the shots 5-0. However, a Malcolm Lyles hooking call gave the Silverbacks a chance to play in the Viper zone, and they capitalized at 3:20.

Goaltender Kirby Halcrow sprawled to stop two shots, but Bryce Gervais was able squeeze a backhand past a prone Halcrow.

The Vipers equalized before the period expired. At 18:51, John Knisley’s wrist shot hit Kris Moore high on the right shoulder and dropped to the goalie’s feet. Darren Nowick poked at it, and it slid slowly into the net. Referees Grant Tyson and Brandon Liefke awarded the goal to Knisley.

The second period saw plenty of scoring chances at each end, eight by the Vipers and five by the Silverbacks.

The Vipers could not convert their chances, but Josh Manson scored a beauty for Salmon Arm. Collecting a D to D pass from James Friedel in their zone, Manson headmanned to Brett Knowles and went racing forward to collect a return pass. His strong wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle beat Halcrow high glove side.

Again, the Vipers equalized, midway through the third period. Dylan Walchuk’s speed down the right wing gave him an opportunity to put the puck on net, and Patrick McGillis was there to bang it in at 9:28.

Then Paul DeJersey went to work, creating two Silverback goals in. At 13:32 DeJersey and his line mates crashed the net, smashing through the Viper defence. Bodies went flying and the net came off its pegs, but the puck also went in at 13:32.

Two minutes later, DeJersey dispossessed Malcolm Lyles just outside the Viper line and found Mike Hammond streaking down the left wing. Hammond took the puck at full speed and fired a wrist shot over Halcrow’s shoulder to make the score 4-2.

However, the Vipers came back with a power play marker exactly two minutes after the Hammond goal.

David Robinson stepped over the Silverback line and delayed long enough for Kyle Murphy to go to the net. Robinson’s perfect pass allowed Murphy to beat Moore with a one-timer.

Facing six Viper attackers, Jayson Reardon collected a loose puck behind his net and fired a 190-footer that found the empty Viper net, and the ‘Backs consolidated a big win in their opponents’ building.

At the final whistle, the Vipers had out shot the Silverbacks 41-30 and had created 21 scoring chances while the ‘Backs had 14. The difference in the game was Salmon Arm’s ability to convert and the Vipers’ inability to hit the net when they had Moore at their mercy.

Kris Moore, unlike in the Penticton series, did not make the difference in this game.