'Backs fall short against Smokies in Playoff atmosphere

A pre-game look at the Cominco.

Salmon Arm sits just four points ahead of Trail with two games in hand in the Interior Division following a gritty game on Tuesday at the Cominco Arena.

Trail potted three goals in the 2nd period and was able to hold on by the smallest margin in the 3rd for a 5-3 victory.

The 'Backs now head home for a game Friday against West Kelowna and a Saturday match against Victoria.

1st Period:

• Really we saw the tale of two periods. Salmon Arm dominated the opening portion, scoring a goal, while Trail took over mid-way through to tie the game before some even play to end the period.
• Steven Iacobellis made it 1-0 thanks to a great pass by Brayden Sherbinin that allowed for an easy shot over the glove of Adam Todd.
• Todd came back strong after the goal, with a brilliant save on Josh Bowes who fired a shot through traffic.
• Trail made it 1-1 on a goal similar to Salmon Arm's, a play from the point came to Mitch Foyle in front of the net for a shot over Adam Clark who was certainly the less busy goaltender on Tuesday.
• The 'Backs did a great job killing off a late penalty, nicely positioning us for a dandy of a second period.

2nd Period:

• Salmon Arm endured a scary incident early, when Brendan Kennedy took an awkward fall on a hit in the corner eventually leaving the game.
• Ryan Schwalbe took exception to the hit, coming in to fight Adam Wheeldon who was the offender.
• Trail took a bit of momentum out of that physical style of play, scoring back-to-back goals, the first from Austin Adduono and the second by Shane Poulsen on the man advantage to make it 3-1.
• Shane Hanna made it 3-2 on his third shot of the period, a bullet from the point through traffic and past Adam Todd.
• Adam Clark's best save of the game came just after the goal, when Garrett McMullen broke in all alone and tried to beat the 'Backs net-minder around the left pad.
• The Smoke Eaters eventually got their break-away goal to make it 4-2, an aerial pass landed on the stick of Brent Baltus who went shelf with less than :10 remaining while Alex Gillies dropped the mitts with McMullen at centre ice.

3rd Period:

• The SilverBacks dominated the entire period, from puck-drop to buzzer - but came up against the Smokies Adam Todd who stood on his head and earned his 1st star nomination.
• Brayden Sherbinin made it 4-3 in the opening minute on a scrum in front of the goal, but that was it for the night as Todd stopped at least five-to-seven quality scoring chances after that marker.
• The 'Backs best chance came with Evan Anderson alone in the slot, his wrister hit the blocker of Todd, who also made a couple nice saves on Shane Hanna who was a threat every time he touched the puck.
• Even with a late 6 on 5 chance in the offensive zone, Trail was able to find the empty net.

On paper, it's a loss on the road against a Divisional rival in a massive Playoff race.

In reality, it was a gutsy effort from a Salmon Arm squad that gave literally everything it had to tie the game against an opposing team that had no choice but to win to save their Playoff hopes.

You wont find any happy SilverBack's tonight, but come March, you also wont find any who don't know the intensity of post-season hockey.