Redmond shines as 'Backs come up short against Vees

Salmon Arm's extended 5 on 3 from the 2nd Period.

A tough pill to swallow on Friday night for the SilverBacks who were the better team in a losing cause against Penticton, before watching the scoreboard as Trail beat Cowichan in double-overtime.

The 'Backs now sit a mere two points ahead of the Smoke Eaters with one game in hand following Friday's 2-1 loss at the hands of Penticton.

Mitch Ferguson had the only goal of the game for Salmon Arm, while Angus Redmond was outstanding in his 5th BCHL start with 22 saves.

1st Period:

• Penticton's first two shots of the game were both quality scoring chances, but that was just the beginning of a banner night for Redmond who was strong from the beginning.
• Steven Iacobellis had the first Salmon Arm chance of the game, following a Jeff Kennedy shot that bounced free off Chad Katunar.
• AP Mitch Barker followed up with a near goal on a another rebound off Katunar but was just short of the loose puck.
• The Vees opened the scoring on a back-hander off a face-off by Jedd Soleway to make it 1-0. It was a good bounce for the Vees who went on to hold their lead for the rest of the game, but not without a fair amount of resistance.

2nd Period: 

• Soleway's second goal of the game came early in the frame when two SilverBack defenders tried to take the puck at the same time, leaving it for the former Vernon Viper who fired a shot in mid-stride for a 2-0 lead.
• Penticton got into serious penalty trouble after the goal, allowing Salmon Arm to get on the board, the 'Backs didn't score on an extended 5 on 3, but finally got on the board thanks to a great shot by Mitch Ferguson that went in under the bar on Katunar.
• Redmond made another fine save late in the period when he was tested by John Seimer.

3rd Period:

• The 'Backs took three penalties in the final frame that may have helped seal their fate. While they didn't give up a goal; and the penalty-kill was stellar, six minutes in the box while down a goal isn't the optimal way to form a come-back.
• Wade Murphy had the Vees best chance to take back a two goal lead, but was turned away by Redmond at the tail-end of a power-play.
• Salmon Arm's best pressure came during the final thirty seconds, as the top line generated a couple of shots to the goal that nearly took a friendly bounce, but in the end it was just short as the Vees squeaked out the 2-1 win.

 

Salmon Arm out-shot Penticton by a tally of 28-24 and looked like a confident group, even without four regulars in the line-up.

It seemed that, again, the difference was that Salmon Arm couldn't generate a friendly bounce, as the losing streak now moves to five games.

A certain positive is the fact that, if the 'Backs can take the fourth spot in the Interior; it looks like their opposition will be in for a harder test than most would expect.

The 'Backs end their home schedule this Friday, as they host Vernon for Fan Appreciation night.