SANTERNO – TWO GOALS ON THE NIGHT-
There were no third period heroics for the Smoke Eaters in Salmon Arm last night as the Silverbacks skated to a 6-4 victory to stay alive in the best of seven series. The Smoke Eaters lead the best of seven, 3 game to 1. On Tuesday night in Salmon Arm the Silverbacks led 3-1 going into the third and the Smoke Eaters put together a comeback to defeat the Backs 4-3. Despite out-shooting the Silverbacks 19-5 in the third period they could not muster a comeback as they did on Tuesday.
As in the game on Tuesday the Smoke Eaters scored first on a goal by Blaine Caton, his firs of the series, assisted on by Carter Cochrane with his 5th of the series and Ryan Warner. It would be the only lead the Smoke Eaters held on the night as Nathan Iannone tied the game a little over a minute later at 15:12. At 17:19 Carson Bolduc scored a power play goal to put Salmon Arm up 2-1.
At 12:42 of the second Ryan Hogg put Salmon Arm up 3-1 on a power play goal. Luke Santerno scored a power play goal for Trail at 17:17, his second of the series. Carter Cochrane collected his 6th assist of the series on the marker as well as Mitchell Stapley.
Being down just 3-2 going into the third the Smokies were in a good position for a comeback but they traded goals the rest of the way and Salmon Arm went on to win 6-4. At 3:25 Salmon Arm’s Colton Thomas put the home team up 4-2. Trail fought back to within one at 10:22 when Connor Brown Maloski scored his 4th of the series assisted on by Ross Armour and Josh Laframboise. At 10:39 Salmon Arm took another 2 goal lead on a goal by Josh Latta. At 15:05 Trail, again, pulled within one on a goal by Luke Santerno with the assist going to Josh Laframboise and Troy Ring. It was Santerno’s 3rd goal of the series. Josh Latta of the Silverbacks salted the game away at 17:29 with his 3rd goal of the series for the 6-4 win.
Salmon Arm dominated the stars on the night with Josh Latta named first star, Nathan Iannone second star and Ryan Hogg third star. Fortis Energy Player of the Game was the Silverback’s Grayson Constable.
The Smokies now return home for game five on Friday night. Game time is 7:30 pm at the Cominco Arena.
