With a quick turnaround the Smoke Eaters weren’t able to keep up the pace with a fresh Silverbacks team, as Salmon Arm evened up the season series with a 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
The Smoke Eaters started well, with the same energy that carried them through 65 plus minutes of hockey the night before, but the Silverbacks weathered the early push and would open the scoring on the powerplay 8:56 into the first. The Backs were able to dig the puck free on the left hand side of the ice, as Isaac Lambert would then go cross ice to Brandon Santa Juana who was able to beat the outstretched pad and glove of Teagan Kendrick. The Silverbacks would double their lead in the first period, despite being out shot, as Will Lavigne held the blueline and made a great move to the inside giving him the lane and opportunity to pick the top corner and give Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead. The Smoke Eaters would hit back to back posts in the first on their opening powerplay, with Willoughby hitting the right post and then the rebound came out to Adam Marshall who hit the left corner bar.
The Smoke Eaters would answer back with a powerplay goal of their own in the second period. As Brady Hunter found Adam Marshall with a great cross ice pass, that Marshall one timed past Tovell to put the Smoke Eaters on the board.
The Silverbacks would strike back a minute later as Jayden Grier drove to the net, cutting inside the Smoke Eaters defenceman and past Kendrick for a 3-1 Silverbacks lead.
Salmon Arm would cap the game off early in the third period with a shorthanded goal as Lambert and Ethan Ullrick combined on a 2-on-1 break as Lambert held till the last possible moment before finding Ullrick at the back post for a tap in. Trail created a few more chances late but were unable to beat Tovell who made 39 saves on the night.
The Smoke Eaters homestand continues next weekend when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Merritt Centennials
