Cents snap losing streak during weekend split

With the Merritt Centennials in the midst of a slump, they welcomed in the Langley Rivermen and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena over the weekend.

The Cents were able to snap their losing streak during the weekend split.

Friday, November 25 Merritt Centennials VS Langley Rivermen

The action began in this game with Michael Shara taking an interference call at the 7:09 mark which sent the Langley Rivermen to the powerplay. About a minute into the man advantage, Tanner Attew fired a shot through traffic from the point and found the back of the net to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead on the powerplay. The Cents proved they were not going to roll over yet in this game as 30 seconds later, Jaxson Murray set up Davide Patella for the tying goal. After the first 20 minutes the game was tied up at 1-1.

In the second period, Attew was able to score his second of the game during a confusing call from the referees. On the play, Kyle Isenberg was being called for a high stick as the puck went into the net. After the refs huddled to discuss the play, they originally waved off the goal but then ultimately went back to the call on the ice to keep the goal call. Isenberg was being called for a four minute high stick but since the goal call stood, his penalty was reduced to a two minute minor. Coming out of the brief break in action to figure out the call, the Rivermen had the 2-1 lead and a powerplay, which once again they were able to connect on. Keeton Oakley and the dominant first powerplay line scored to widen the lead to 3-1. That’s how the score would stay after the second period.

The Rivermen continued to add onto their lead in the third period. At the 8:23 mark, Oakley notched his second of the game to make it a 4-1 lead. Things went from bad to worse for the Centennials. With just over three minutes left and down by three, Johnny Hicks headed to the bench to get an extra attacker out for the Cents trying to spark some momentum. During pressure in the offensive zone, Christian Lowe unfortunately went to pass back to the point and the puck got away down the ice and into the empty net. Deven Nagra was given credit for the goal as he was the last Rivermen to touch the puck. Final score 5-1.

The Cents fell into penalty trouble in the game, going 7/9 on the penalty kill. Hicks stopped 39/43 in the losing effort. With the loss, the Centennials losing streak was extended to five games.

Sunday, November 27 Merritt Centennials VS Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Coming off a late night Saturday practice on the rest day, the Merritt Centennials came stepped onto the ice with a momentum boost. Diego Johnson was able to find the back of the net on a sharp angle shot, for his first goal in 12 games, to give the Cents a 1-0 lead in the first two minutes. Less than three minutes later, Walker Erickson would make it a 2-0 lead with a wrist shot, beating Carter Richardson under the glove. The Centennials were not able to hold the lead as the Aidan Lindblad would cut into the lead with a goal at the 6:25 mark. With six minutes left in the opening period, Isaac Lambert would tie the game up at two a piece for the Silverbacks. That’s how the game would stay after 20 minutes.

The second period was a back and forth period with only a couple of penalty calls. Just under four minutes into the second, Lindblad would be shown the locker room after getting a game misconduct for checking from behind. It was called a minor penalty and the Cents were not able to capitalize on 28 seconds of powerplay time. The powerplay time was cut short for the Cents due to Tristan Allen taking an interference call, pushing the play to four-on-four. With no scoring in the second, the game stayed tied 2-2 after 40 minutes.

After being down 2-0 early in the first, the Silverbacks came into the third period looking to complete the comeback, and they were able to grab the lead. CJ Foley scored his third goal of the season to give the Silverbacks their first lead of the game 3-2. With the Cents now with their back against the wall and the time being the enemy, the team turned towards the captain. Four and a half minutes left in the game, Davide Patella hustled to beat out an icing call and use a bad bounce off the back boards to tuck in the easy tying goal. Neither team was able to grab a last minute goal and this game needed an extra five minutes of overtime.

Three-on-three overtime is action packed, back-and-forth, and this one was no different. Salmon Arm had three shots in overtime and forced Johnny Hicks to save the game on some desperation diving saving on two of them. Heading back down the ice, Jackson Murray caused a turnover at the blue line of the Silverbacks and fed Jackson Krill for a breakaway. Krill, being tied for fifth in the league in goals scored, made no mistake in picking the top left corner for the game winner. The Cents needed just one shot in the extra time to find the back of the net. Final score 4-3 in OT.

Hicks made 38/41 saves to snap the Cents five game losing streak.

After the weekend, the Cents now have a 6-13-3 record and sit with 15 which still sees them sit in the basement of the Interior, five points back of the Wenatchee Wild.

Up next, the Merritt Centennials travel to the island to play the Powell River Kings on Friday (December 2) and then the Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday (December 3).