The Silverbacks kicked off a five-game road trip, their longest of the season, with a three-game swing on the Island starting in the provincial capital last Friday against the Grizzlies.
Salmon Arm speedster Ross Heidt opened the scoring late in the first period when he jumped on a loose puck off a scramble faceoff, and beat the Grizzlies defence before scoring on his backhand past Michael Stiliadis.
The gloves came off and fists flew shortly after Heidt’s opening tally.
The Grizzlies’ Thomas Gobeil and the ’Backs Shane Danyluk were both assessed five-minute majors for fighting, game misconducts and Gobeil was also given two minutes for roughing.
Nick Hutchinson doubled Salmon Arm’s lead in the second period, scoring his first goal since Oct. 3.
In the third period Josh Laframboise and Branden Wagner added to the Silverbacks’ lead on their way to the 4-0 win.
“Our guys did an outstanding job,” said Silverbacks head coach Brandon West.
“We played very well in our own zone, and that gave us lots of time to produce offensively in Victoria’s end.”
Angus Redmond was the game’s first star, making 31 saves to earn his third shutout of the season and second of the month.
Redmond is now tied for second in the league with three shutouts, behind Penticton’s Hunter Miska.
“Angus Redmond played one of his best games of the season on Friday and I think that can be said for the rest of the team as well.”
Looking to keep the momentum rolling, the Silverbacks headed to Alberni Valley last Saturday.
The Bulldogs’ leading scorer, Mitch Makin scored the first goal of the game just over a minute into the second, after a sleepy first period.
Hutchinson and the ’Backs quickly responded, equalizing the game four minutes after falling behind.
The goal was Hutchinson’s second in as many games and fifth of the season.
The Bulldogs nipped back, re-taking the lead three minutes into the third period, as Scott Clark scored short- handed.
Salmon Arm answered back again. Heidt fired a shot from the right wing that beat Billy Christopoulos on the short side.
Makin scored his second of the game only 30 seconds after the ’Backs had equalized.
With less than a minute on the clock and with Carson Bolduc in the penalty box for roughing, and Redmond pulled, Tyler Provelofskie iced the game at 4-2.
“We didn’t get the points we needed Saturday, which was disappointing, but we knew Sunday provided another chance at two points,” West said.
A week ago, Salmon Arm faced the Island Division’s best, the Nanaimo Clippers, for the first time this season.
Both teams picked up where they left off, playing with aggressive intensity.
The first period was penalty laden, each side taking five.
Danyluk spent 11 minutes in the sin bin for cross-checking, kneeing, roughing and for a game misconduct.
“For the first 10 minutes or so I thought we played really hard, and I don’t think our discipline was an issue.
“We didn’t agree with the calls that went against us, but we can’t give them (referees) reason to call penalties against us, we need to stay out of the box to win games,” said West.
Nanaimo opened the scoring two minutes into the game as Nicolas Carrier scored, even strength, his 13th of the season.
Each team conceded four more penalties in the second, and Nanaimo’s Cole Maier increased the Clippers’ lead on the man advantage.
The league’s second most lethal power play went to work again in the third period, as Anthony Rinaldi gave the Clippers the 3-0 lead.
Taro Hirose scored with six minutes remaining, the assists coming from Josh Blanchard and Heidt, giving Heidt three points from three games on the road trip.
Rinaldi scored his second of the game with Redmond pulled, giving Nanaimo the 4-1 win.
“I thought our penalty kill was great, but we can only kill so many penalties and expect to win,” said West.
The Silverbacks return to the Interior today, to face the league’s best – Penticton, before heading north to battle Vernon in a home-and -home, returning to the Shaw Centre on Jan. 31.
“We can’t focus on the last game we played against them (Penticton), we need to push reset and focus on Wednesday’s game.”
“Our group should be eager and excited to play a very good team.”
