Salmon Arm 5 Vernon 4 (Overtime)

Salmon Arm 5 Vernon 4 (Overtime)

Was at tonights Silverbacks home opener as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 5-4 in Overtime in front of 1,464 fans at the Sunwave Center.

1st Period: A very quick fast pace start to the game with lots of flow and action at both ends of the rink. Vernons best scoring chance came when Cory Kane put a nice move around the Salmon Arm D-man, and then wired a wrist shot from the top of the circle just missing the top corner by inches. The Silverbacks come to play tonight, looking much better & stronger over last nights 4-1 loss in Vernon. The Backs really turned up the aggresive play at both ends of the rink, wich seemed to keep the Vipers Defence back on there heels, as the Vernon Defence was having troubles in there own end. The Vipers couldnt seem to get the puck out, making some soft passes up the middle or being careless coughing up the puck many times. Zac Rasmussen had Salmon Arms best scoring chance when he snuck down the right wing and just fired his shot a little high over the top corner. The Vipers would open the scoring at the 12 min mark after Steven Weinstein made a nice long pass up the middle, feeding a wide open Braden Pimm, who went in all alone on the breakaway and firing his shot high over Bryan Gillis's glove. It didnt take long for the Backs to tie the game up, around 4 mins later with Salmon Arm on the PP Conor Morrison beat Andrew Hammond. Vernon had one powerplay chance but really struggled, as the Silverbacks played very aggresive attacking the Vernon point, not giving them much room to shoot. Vernons Defence was caught a few times in the 1st getting caught on the pinch, wich resulted in way too many odd man rushes coming back the other way. Late in the period Ryan Santana did all the work, keeping the puck in at the line and then used his upper body strength to power his way througha crowd, making a nice pass over to John Diggness who beat Gillis high as Vernon jumped ahead 2-1. A very entertaining 1st period. Vipers were up 2-1 after 20 mins of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 9-6.

2nd Period: Another good start to the period with good flow as both teams carried the play at times. Both teams looked very even up to this point but it didnt take long before the Backs turned the game around with some heavy forecheck deep in the Vipers zone. Kevin Kraus couldnt get the puck out, wich resulted in a turnover. Travis Statchuk beat Hammond up high tying the game 2-2. The Vipers didnt seem to show the skill they played with last night, it seemed they were having troubles with the Silverbacks very aggresive play. The Backs 2nd goal seemed to generate the offence as Salmon Arm stepped up there play carrying the play for the next 5-6 mins but couldnt take the lead after Andrew Hammond played well, looking confident. Travis Briard had a great scoring chance but missed a wide open net, after being alone at the side of the net. A pass come through the crease and Briard just fired wide. Just after the midway mark Vernon would get a two man advantage and it didnt take long for them to re-take the lead. After some nice passing, Steve Tresierra wired a shot from the point, beating Gillis as Vernon jumped ahead 3-2. Salmon Arm would kill off the other minor after some solid penalty killing. A very back & forth period with chances at either ends of the rink. With under a min remaining Steve Tresierra's point shot was blocked at the blueline, Three Silverbacks come back the other way, with Tresierra trying to get back into the play, it was a race for the puck and in the end, Mark Zengerle won the race, as Hammond was going down, Zengerle beat Hammond high over the glove to tie the game with just 42 seconds left. This goal didnt seem to faze the Vipers, as on there next rush up ice, Connor Jones made a nice pass up ice to Kellen Jones, who then fed a sweet pass across the crease and found a wide open Mike Collins who beat Gillis with just 5 seconds remaining. Gillis had no chance on the goal. Collins would get his first career BCHL Goal after some nice hustle on the play. Vernon was up 4-3 after 40 mins of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 13-8.

3rd Period: It didnt take the Silverbacks long to tie the game once again. Just 5 mins into the 3rd after some nice passing from Conor Morrison & Keenan Desmet who fed a wide open Mark Zengerle who beat Hammond scoring on a wide open net. Salmon Arm had the edge in play for a good 5-6 mins after tying the game, But then Vernon now got the edge in play back, and it was the Vipers who turned up the aggresive forecheck, wich seemed to work as the Backs Defence was now the ones having troubles getting the puck out of there own end. Most of the remainder of the 2nd was played in the Silverbacks zone. Vernon did a good job of not giving up many shots playing better on the backend. Vipers did carry the better of the play but really didnt get many great scoring chances. Salmon Arms breakout was very solid all night, using there speed and long pass up the side boards, seemed to work everytime catching the Vernon D-Men off guard. Vernons best scoring chance came late with just 12 seconds remaining, Connor Jones had the puck behind the Backs goal, Connor made a nice pass to the side of the net where Kellen Jones then couldnt raise the puck but did get a shot off, Gillis was there making a big pad save to keep the game tied 4-4. If Kellen could have raised the puck, this game would have been over. The game was tied 4-4 after 60 mins of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-4.

Overtime: It didnt take the Backs long to end tonights hockey game. Just 1:41 into the extra period on just there 2nd rush into the Vipers zone, the puck went into the corners, where Colin Lidster made a nice pass out front, where Zac Rasmussen was left alone in the slot, who beat Hammond high over the glove for the OT winner, as the Salmon Arm bench exploded pouring onto the ice.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Cody Ikkala played a solid game on the Vipers backend. Ikkala looked very confident and played solid defensivly.

Steve Tresierra (1 Goal) also looked strong on the Vernon blueline. Ryan Santana (1 Assist) looked very strong up front. Worked very hard, played with alot of grit and hustle all game. Real solid down low with the puck, hard to fight off the puck.

Andrew Hammond didnt have to stand on his head but played well. John Digness (1 Goal) Played his 2nd strong game in a row.

Top Players: (Salmon Arm)

Mark Zengerle (2 Goals & 1 Assist) was by far the Backs best player tonight. Scored two nice goals. Looked very strong up front.

Zac Rasmussen (1 Goal) also looked good up front. Conor Morrison (1 Goal & 2 Assists) also played very solid, a great two way player.

Bryan Gillis didnt have to make many hard saves, but did play well. Matt Grassi logged alot of icetime, played a great defensive game for the Silverbacks.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers played well but I thought didnt show that skill they played with last night. They didnt get nearly as many good scoring chances as last night too. Had troubles in there own end clearing the puck as well as on the breakout. Salmon Arms very aggresive forecheck did have something to do with that. Vipers had the lead for the whole game until Overtime. They just couldnt seem to hold a lead or get that two goal lead and try to put Salmon Arm away. Struggled on the PP tonight.

Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)

After four straight meetings the Backs get there first win over Vernon this year. You knew the Silverbacks would come out with a better performance compared to last nights 4-1 loss. I was impressed with Salmon Arms aggresive forecheck as well as there breakout. A very quick team wich really likes to get the puck to the winger, drive wide towards the net, and then have a trailor drive to the slot, and pick up any pass coming out front or rebounds. The Backs scored two goals on plays like these tonight. The Backs showed more skill in tonights game. Overall a very entertaining hockey game, good flow with lots of back & forth action.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Sahir Gill
Trent Dorais
Kory Roy
Nick Amies

Salmon Arm:

Greg Noyes
Sam Mitchell

3 Stars:

1st Star: Mark Zengerle (2 Goals & 1 Assist)
2nd Star: Ryan Santana (1 Assist)
3rd Star: Zac Rasmussen (1 Goal)