For the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, playoff mode began before the B.C. Hockey League’s Christmas break.
The ‘Backs looked like a team already in a playoff game instead of battling for their playoff lives Friday night, as they shut out the Vernon Vipers 3-0 in front of 2,408 fans at Kal Tire Place.
The loss snapped Vernon’s nine-game home ice winning streak.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Salmon Arm native Shane Danyluk, a fortmer Prince Albert Raider who had 1+1 and was named third star. “We’re in the middle of a playoff push right now and it’s nice to get a W here in Vernon.
“I think we’ve been in the playoff mind set since a week before Christmas. Every day we come in and it’s like a do-or-die mentality. It’s nice to get two points after a tough couple of losses.”
The two teams played the back end of the weekend home-and-home series Saturday night at the Shaw Centre.
The win snapped a three-game losing slide for the Silverbacks (20-18-3-5), and ended Vernon’s modest two-game winning streak. Each team has 12 regular season games remaining.
Salmon Arm moved to within two points of the West Kelowna Warriors for the fourth and final Interior Division playoff spot. The Warriors lost 7-3 Friday in Merritt, the Centennials moving into sole possession of third place, two points ahead of West Kelowna and 11 back of the second-place Snakes.
Vernon (30-13-1-2) fell 14 points behind the division-leading Penticton Vees, 4-3 winners Friday before 2,043 fans at home over the last-place Trail Smoke Eaters.
After a scoreless opening frame, second period deflections off point shots – after the Vipers failed to clear their zone – by forwards Danyluk (ninth goal) and Thomas Plese (sixth) gave Salmon Arm a 2-0 cushion heading into the third.
Danyluk’s deflection through the legs of Vipers goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn was Salmon Arm’s first goal in nearly 89 minutes over its last three games.
Forward Taylor Maruya (third) scored on a wraparound with less than three minutes left to round out the scoring.
Goalie Angus Redmond made 31 saves to register his fourth shutout of the season, as Vernon outshot the Gorillas 31-22, including 11-3 in the third period.
Redmond was named the game’s first star, though he was quick to spread the credit to his team, and especially his defence who threw up a wall against the Vipers’ snipers.
“The guys really stepped it up today and blocked a ton of shots in front of me, and our offence capitalized on our opportunities,” said Redmond. “It’s nice to get the two points.”
Redmond’s best saves came in the first period, stopping Colton McCarthy on a breakaway after McCarthy was sent in alone on a beautiful pass from Johnny Coughlin. Redmond made the save with his catching glove, but lost the puck.
“I shook out my pad in the dressing room in between periods and it was in there,” laughed Redmond. “I have no idea what it got hung up on.”
In the third, Vernon defenceman Brandon Egli was allowed to walk in from the point but he wired a shot right into Redmond’s mid-section.
Vernon Fortis Energy player of the game Riley Brandt missed a glorious chance in the middle frame when he walked in alone on Redmond, deked him, but slid the puck wide of the open net.
“You have to credit them a little bit, they’re playing well right now, but I don’t think the effort was there for us tonight,” said Viper alternate captain, defenceman Kenny Citron.
The game Saturday in Salmon Arm marked the start of six straight road contests for the Vipers. Vernon’s next home game is Friday, Feb. 13 against the Silverbacks.
SNAKE BITES: Friday’s loss was the second time the Vipers have been blanked on home ice this season. West Kelowna shutout the Vipers 4-0 Sept. 27…F Jagger Williamson returned to the lineup Friday after missing 10 games with an injury…Mackenzie Bauer and Luke Voltin were scratches for the Vipers…Vernon native Logan Mick was among three scratches for Salmon Arm…The Vipers were 18th in the latest CJHL national rankings, one spot behind the Nanaimo Clippers. Penticton is No. 3
