Vipers Eliminate Silverbacks In 3OT:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers eliminate Silverbacks in 3OT

Morning Star Staff

Mar. 13, 2019

It was nearly two games in one Friday at Kal Tire Place.

Vernon native Matt Kowalski turned hometown hero, scoring at 16:56 of the third overtime period to give the Vernon Vipers a 4-3 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in B.C. Hockey League Interior Conference quarterfinal action in front of 2,394 fans at Kal Tire Place.

The goal was Kowalski’s third of the series and eliminated Salmon Arm as the Vipers win the opening round series four games to one to advance to the conference semifinals.

Three of the five games in the series were decided in overtime.

It’s the second straight years the Vipers have eliminated the Gorillas in the first round.

Kowalski drove to the net and beat Salmon Arm goalie Ethan Lengenegger with a backhand shot under the crossbar to end the 4 hour 21 minute marathon.

Hudson Schandor had a chance to end the game early in the sixth period for Salmon Arm, sneaking behind the Vipers defence to receive a pass and go in clear on Vipers goalie Aidan Porter. Schandor went to a deke and had the puck bounce over his stick.

Langenegger did everything he could to force a Game 6 Saturday back in Salmon Arm, as he finished with 52 saves, including 20 in overtime. Porter matched Langenegger save for save in overtime, finishing with 22 saves after regulation and 49 for the game.

The Vipers opened the Game 5 scoring just 53 seconds after the national anthem when Logan Cash tapped in a crease pass from Lansdell past Langenegger.

The Gorillas tied it on their first shot on goal at 2:58 when Andy Stevens beat Porter with a shot off the goal post.

Salmon Arm matched their goal output from the previous three games with a pair of second-period markers from Andy Stevens – his third of the series – at 4:42 and Shaw at 10:36.

Vernon tied the game with two goals two minutes apart from defencemen Young and Jack Judson at 1:27 and 3:27.