Salmon Arm blows it open with three quick goals to keep Merritt winless

The Merritt Centennials played easily their best first period in weeks, if not all season long Friday night in Salmon Arm.

The Cents were able to generate some quality offensive zone time, even if the shots weren’t coming through as often as they would like.

The Silverbacks however would find the back of the net first on a powerplay opportunity. With Davida Patella off for hooking, Simon Tassy would feed the puck out front to ‘Backs captain Daniel Panetta who beat Keegan Maddocks.

The Cents seemed poised to end into the room down 1-0 until Talon Zakall fired a slapshot from the top of the right circle, the puck would deflect off a Salmon Arm player before beating Liam Vanderkooi to level the score 1-1.

Shots after 20 minutes 12-6 in favour of SA.

The game continued to be close through much of the middle stanza. It would be the Silverbacks again striking first as Simon Tassy would score shorthanded to make the game 2-1.

Then it was a moment Tristan Allen will never forget as the young dman broke down the right wing side and beat Vanderkooi stick side for his first goal in the BCHL.

Salmon Arm would take over the game late in the second, scoring three times in 59 seconds. Owen Beckner scoring on a tip trill in front, followed by Mathieu Bourgault and Lucas Matta sniping glove side high past Maddocks.

Shots after two 25-12 SA.

Salmon Arm would add two more in the final stanza to win 7-2, including their second shorthanded marker of the contest courtesy of Ethan Ullrick who outmuscled Zakall before deking to the backhand and going five hole.

Keegan Maddocks would stop 23/30 in the contest.