An inconsistent level of effort plus the loss of two top players equals an unproductive weekend for the Salmon Arm SilverBacks
The Gorillas dropped a 4-1 road decision to the Trail Smoke Eaters Friday and then came home only to have the Powell River Kings hand them a 5-3 defeat on Sunday.
Playing the Kings for the first time this season, they found themselves down 2-0 early in the second but Mitch Ferguson and Harlan Orr responded to tie before the end of the period.
Unfortunately, it seemed the hockey gods were still unhappy from Salmon Arm’s collective no-show in Trail. The ’Backs couldn’t get the bounce they needed in the third and the visitors tallied three times to seal Salmon Arm’s fate.
“We had a much better effort (than against Trail),” said Salmon Arm assistant bench boss Brandon West. “Every individual was better. We had two chances in the first minute of the game but we have to capitalize on the chances given.”
The SilverBacks were forced to play without Shane Hanna, who received an automatic two-game suspension from the previous game in Trail stemming from a blow-to-the-head call and subsequent fight with Scott Davidson. Alex Gillies dressed but did not see the ice as a nagging injury continued to slow him. The team’s other top producers like Brandon Mistal and Steven Iacobellis were held in check except for one assist from Mistal.
“For the most part, the work ethic was there… there wasn’t much wrong about our game,” said West. “We had a couple breakdowns in the third and credit to Powell River; it was their third game in two-and-a-half days and it was hard to push back.”
J.P. Villeneuve scored twice in the third to salt it away for the Kings.
In Trail Friday, for whatever reason, Salmon Arm produced a clunker and the Smokies took full advantage, scoring three times in the second to essentially put the SilverBacks away.
“We had a lackluster effort, our energy levels weren’t high and there’s no excuse for that,” said West. “Trail outworked us for 60 minutes and we struggled to answer back.”
Salmon Arm had no reply until Evan Anderson’s marker with less than two minutes to go, but Riley McDougall’s empty-netter iced it for Trail.
Hanna was sent packing late in the second after the altercation with Davidson and Gillies didn’t even dress for the game.
“There were a bunch of factors that came into play but when you don’t have the work ethic right away, it’s hard to overcome,” said West. “Trail’s effort was greater than ours; we couldn’t put shifts together and get any momentum.”
The good news is the ’Backs have the next two games to atone for the loss. They have a home-and-home set with the Smokies beginning Friday at Shaw Centre at 7 p.m. and then at Cominco Arena Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. face off.
Salmon Arm and Trail are currently tied for the final playoff spot in the Interior with 37 points apiece. The SilverBacks have four games in hand on the Smoke Eaters though.
