The Smoke Eaters got off to a great start on Wednesday night in Salmon Arm but they couldn’t hold off the push back from the Silverbacks who take 5-2 win over the Smoke Eaters to close out the season series.
The Smoke Eaters would kick the game off in style scoring just 21 seconds into the hockey game, as defenceman Jordan Hendry added his fifth of the year, taking a pass from Brady Hunter and Adam Parsons to open the game up for the Smoke Eaters.
The Smoke Eaters then came close on two other chances over the next two minutes to making it a 2-1 game inside the opening three, but a scramble in front of the Silverbacks net was cleared from being knocked into the open net. From there the Silverbacks took control it seemed, first tying the game 5:05 into the first on a powerplay goal from Nathan Mackie, the Backs captain, then taking the lead late in the first after the second Smoke Eaters penalty expired, Raoul Boilard gave the Silverbacks a 2-1 lead.
The Smoke Eaters struggle to get much going through the second and third as Salmon Arm did well at controlling the neutral zone and keeping the puck in the Smoke Eaters end, out shooting the Smoke Eaters 13-7 in the middle frame. Salmon Arm would add two goals off the stick of Casy Laylin giving the Backs a 4-1 lead heading to the third. The Smoke Eaters were once again shorthanded as they went into the game with illness and a few more injuries holding players out of the line up. However they did get Max Potvin back into the line up, who in limited minutes played well, coming up with a few chances and keeping pace with Hunter on a few rushes up the ice. Affiliate players Anthony Domina, Kia Adano, Kayden Clarke and Chad Bates all played well, with Adano and Domina making there BCHL debuts, with Domina getting a few offensive opportunities as well.
In the third the Smoke Eaters got one back with a powerplay goal of their own, as the former Silverback himself Mathieu Cobetto-Roy beat Matthew Tovell with a quick shot from the right circle as Hunter and Evan Bushy connected to get Cobetto-Roy the puck, making it 4-2.
The Smoke Eaters would pull the goalie with under three minutes remaining, as they looked for two more goals but the Silverbacks would take advantage of the empty net, as Mackie added his second of the year. Salmon Arm would hold onto a 5-2 win over the Smoke Eaters, winning the season series 3-2. The Smoke Eaters now return home for four straight, starting on Friday night against the Chilliwack Chiefs.
