Silverbacks Take 2-0 Series Lead:

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Silverbacks take 2-0 series lead

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-03-19

A five-goal outburst in the first period propelled the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks to a 6-0 win over the Vernon Vipers on Saturday.

A motivated Viper squad started brightly, hemming the Silverbacks in their zone for long stretches in the first seven minutes, but the hosts were unable to convert their scoring chances.

Then against the run of play, on their first shot on net, the Silverbacks scored at 7:30. Brad Reid’s shot from the right wing found the inside of the far post. Kirby Halcrow, moving right to left across his crease, seemed handcuffed by the shot.

On their third and fifth shots, the ‘Backs scored twice more. At 11:09 Reid’s pass from the right boards found Clinton Atkinson striding in from the left point. Atkinson’s wrist shot beat Halcrow high to the glove side.

Then, on their first power play of the night, Brett Knowles pounced on a rebound that Halcrow was unable to freeze on his chest, at 17:29. At that point, Blake Voth took over in the Viper net.

The shell shocked Vipers held the Silverbacks at bay for the next two minutes, but Voth faced two shots in the last 30 seconds of the period and allowed two goals.

Voth had no chance on the first one. On their second power play, the ‘Backs moved the puck crisply, the Vipers were slow to react, and Jarryd Ten Vaanholt had an open net at 19:30.

Still reeling, the Vipers allowed Brett Knowles to split the defence with five seconds remaining in the period and he burst through to put the puck high over Voth’s shoulder. Knowles’s effort typified the hunger that the Silverbacks displayed whenever a scoring opportunity presented itself.

Vernon’s players came out with more composure and intensity in the second and third periods, during which they out shot and out chanced Salmon Arm, but they seemed nervous and uncertain around the net.

On the other hand, the Silverbacks scored with ruthless efficiency, six times on their first 13 shots. The sixth goal was another superbly orchestrated power play strike. At 9:31 of the second period, Mike Hammond’s laser pass from the left corner was met by Jarryd Ten Vaanholt at the right post.

Final shots favoured the Vipers, 34-17. Scoring chances were even, 13-13. The Vipers outhit the Silverbacks and won two-thirds of the faceoffs, but the ‘Backs put on a clinic on how to finish plays.

Kris Moore’s shutout was workmanlike, as he had perhaps only 4 really tough saves among his 34.

Phil Patenaude’s injury-riddled season continued as his desperate lunge to prevent a goal in the second period took him into the back boards, where he appeared to seriously injure his leg. He was replacing the injured Max Mowat on the Viper defence.

Injured forwards Dane Muench and Colton Sparrow also missed the game for Vernon.

Meanwhile, Salmon Arm seems to have escaped the injury bug. Brandon Mistal, Justin Elliott, and Josh McKissock were all healthy scratches.