The Vernon Vipers might want to heed the message that reads: objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
That’s because the Salmon Arm SilverBacks is the hottest team in the BCHL, having won nine straight games to pull within three points of the Snakes for first in the Interior Division. And the Penticton Vees are right there too and also have 76 points, the same as Salmon Arm.
But Penticton has lost its last two meetings with Vernon while Salmon Arm has beaten the two-time defending national champs seven out of eight games this season.
Most recently was last week’s 5-4 win in Vernon where the ’Backs raced out to a 5-1 lead after two periods, getting two goals from Brad Reid, before hanging on for a 5-4 win.
“It was a big game going in, both teams were hot lately and something had to give,” said Gorillas bench boss Tim Kehler.
Vernon poured it on in the third, scoring three times to bend Salmon Arm’s defence but ultimately not breaking it. Kris Moore made 25 saves for the win.
Salmon Arm then pulled off an impressive, come-from-behind overtime win in Trail on Friday. Trailing 3-1 after two periods, Cody Michelle and Charlie Vasaturo scored to tie it and in the first overtime, Vasaturo scored again to clinch it. The SilverBacks got three goals from defencemen on the night with Vasaturo’s pair and Jayson Reardon’s opening marker, his first of the season.
“It was a tremendous effort,” said Kehler. “We had to kill two penalties early in the third which ate into our time to make a comeback, but we really stuck with it and when we got the 3-2 goal, you could really feel the momentum swinging.
“It was a huge win from a number of standpoints.”
Trail came to Sunwave Centre Saturday night and after Salmon Arm built a 3-0 lead after the first period getting two goals from an unlikely source in Paul De Jersey, Trail chipped away and made it 3-2 early in the first. But that was as close as they’d get.
“Both teams were hungry and playing very well,” said Kehler. “I thought we could have put the game away in the first, we had lots of shots but Kiefer Smiley was just outstanding in net. He gave Trail the incentive to hang around and they chipped away.”
The win gave Moore 20 on the season as he made 36 saves. His coach continues to be happy with his play.
“It was a good performance from him, there were some goals he’d like to have back but he was at his best when those games became one-goal games,” said Kehler. “His win-loss record is exceptional and it speaks to the type of kid he is.”
Kehler is most happy about the SilverBacks’ depth. In the overtime win in Trail, it was two defencemen and fourth-liner Cody Michelle that supplied the goals. The next night it was De Jersey, another fourth-liner that broke out.
“I thought our first two (lines) still generated a lot of chances but the story of the weekend was our depth guys outplayed Trail’s depth guys,” said Kehler. “That was the difference.”
Another thing the SilverBacks have going in their favour with five days left in the regular season is they have a game in hand on Vernon. So even though their remaining four games are all on the road, they can still pass Vernon for first place and a first-round playoff bye.
Salmon Arm plays in Powell River tonight, in Langley Friday, Surrey Saturday and Coquitlam Sunday.
