It was playoff hockey personified.
A high-tempo, highly competitive and hard-nosed defensive game that featured great goaltending, came down to a single screen shot from the boards.
The goal by Silverbacks defenseman Luke Lepper just past the 11-minute mark of the second period stood up as the winner in a 2-0 Salmon Arm victory over the Smokies in Friday night’s BCHL first round playoff opener at Cominco Arena.
There were great chances at both ends throughout the game.
Smokies goalie Cooper Michaluk stopped Anthony Cardilli on a power move through the crease after breaking around the Trail defense early in the first period.
A few minutes later, Salmon Arm’s Daniel Dirracolo made a miraculous save on a Gabe Bugeaud deflection just outside the crease.
The Smokies killed off two Silverbacks power plays in the opening frame, sacrificing their bodies by blocking shots.
Trail also had three first period power plays including a 5-on-3 for 33-seconds, but despite some precision puck movement, could not find the net.
Michaluk was magic in the second period as a few of his 12 saves were great stops right after Salmon Arm took the lead, keeping the Smokies in the tightly-fought contest.
Both teams continued to create chances, but neither goaltender gave ground.
Smokies winger Dylan Lariviere had three prime time opportunities, but didn’t get a clean shot away on the first and the puck bounced over his stick on the other two. On many occasions, the Smokies just didn’t get the breaks needed to score.
The teams dug in deep on defense in the third period generating a total of nine shots on goal between them, but one of Trail’s five shots was arguably the best scoring opportunity of the night.
Defenseman Ted Welander snuck in from the point and was fed a perfect pass just outside the crease, but Dirrocolo scrambled across the net to make his biggest save of the game.
The Smokies just missed on a great tic-tac-toe passing play with the man advantage about 14-minutes into the final frame, but Cash Carter just missed a tap-in into the open corner at the far side of the net.
The Silverbacks iced the game with 9-seconds remaining on Landon Mackie’s unassisted empty net goal.
Salmon Arm outshot Trail 26-25. The Smokies were 0-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
This is the type of series that was expected, emotional, physical and close checking with solid goaltending, but this is junior hockey, where the term “expect the unexpected” applies each and every night.
Opening face off tonight at Cominco Arena is set for 7 o’clock.
