GAME TWO PREVIEW: (6) Merritt Centennials at (3) Salmon Arm Silverbacks (Salmon Arm leads series 1-0)

Apr 6, 2024 | 11:02 AM Zach Amin

Merritt Centennials — (22-26-5-1)

The Cents let it all slip away in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Backs last night. This team has had their struggles all season long hanging onto leads and playing full 60 minute efforts and last season they fumbled a massive chance to not only hold the lead but survive their mishaps by potting one in overtime, another area where the Cents have struggled. The toughest part of last night’s loss was the fact Salmon Arm was not on their game at all and Merritt couldn’t take advantage of one of the sloppiest games we’ve seen them play. Expect the Silverbacks to play a much better game tonight.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks — (34-17-0-3)

For the Silverbacks they now have three straight wins against their opponents winning 4 out of 6 games. Only two games have been played in Merritt however so Salmon Arm will have played 5 out of 7 matchups at home this year. The Silverbacks cannot let the Centennials steal one on the road as they have struggled away from the Shaw Centre and would head to the NVMA for three out of the next four games of the series having lost home ice. If they are able to win today though a 2-0 series lead might be too much for the Cents to overcome.

Previous Meetings;

The Silverbacks won the season series 3 games to 2. The games in Salmon Arm saw the Backs torch the Cents twice, 7-1 and 7-3 but also lose 3-2 in an eleven round shootout. At the NVMA the teams played twice with the Silverbacks crushing the Cents 5-2 and getting blown out 4-0 themselves. The season series has been all over the place with 4 out of 5 games being blowouts with only one game being a thriller. Salmon Arm also had points in 4 out of 5 matchups against the Cents.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents PP: 39/182 (21.4%) (T8th) PK: 40/195 (79.5%) (7th)

Backs PP: 34/159 (21.4%) (T8th) PK: 29/158 (79.5%) (3rd)

Players to Watch:

Michael Felsing doesn’t have the best numbers against Salmon Arm but still had 9 points in his final 9 games of the season as he also looks to end his junior career on a high note. He scored twice for the Cents last night.

Jaxson Murray was also named 2nd star of the week with 5 points in 2 games and had two primary assists on Felsing’s two goals. Murray is feeling it right now.

For the Silverbacks Eli Pulver remains the difference maker for Salmon Arm. Pulver won five of his six starts in March, stopping 186 of 194 shots to earn a .959 save percentage and a 1.27 goals-against average. The Vancouver, B.C. native allowed one goal or less in four of his starts, including a shutout on March 8 where he went 69:46 without allowing a goal, making 42 saves in a 1-0 Silverbacks win in overtime over the Cranbrook Bucks. Pulver allowed just three goals over his final four starts, all resulting in Salmon Arm victories. He was named BCHL 2nd star of the month for March.

Merritt Centennials practice on April 3 (image credit – CFJC Today)

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Key number 1 – Play a full 60 minutes. Game One will likely be looked at as the difference maker in the series down the road, with the team blowing a 2-0 lead and losing in overtime. We’ve seen this team all season long start strong and then take their foot off the gas.

Key Number 2 – Steal one from the Shaw Centre. All it takes is one win on the road in games one or two to steal home ice in the series. With three out of four games at the NVMA after Game Two a win would go a long way in the first two to give the Cents a chance to get some home cooking and shock the BCHL with a round one upset.

Key number 3 – Enough with the casual plays. The first goal last night Maddox Martin was allowed to skate in alone and pot his own rebound. There are too many goals going in against the Centennials where the Cents look like passengers. When the team is playing their best they are boxing the opposition out but it seems like when one thing goes wrong the players sink down instead of pushing back. The boys need to play with a little more swagger.