GAME 3 PREVIEW: (3) Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ (6) Merritt Centennials – (Series tied 1-1)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks —  (Series tied 1-1)

The Silverbacks head to Merritt with some doubt in their game. They weren’t able to put away the Centennials in regulation, escaping with an overtime win in Game One of the series. They went down 2-0 and 3-0 in both games and were only able to pull off the comeback once. On the road they are 14-12-1 this season, they are not the same team away from Salmon Arm as they are at the Shaw Centre. That being said they are 1-1 here at Merritt this year.

Merritt Centennials — (Series tied 1-1)

Finally some home cooking for the Cents and that winning feeling behind them after Game Two’s huge victory. After playing five out of seven games this year at the Shaw Centre it’s about time these two teams faced off at the NVMA. The Centennials are red hot at home coming in with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten home games, they are 4 games over .500 at in Merritt and as we all know the siren has been going off non stop. With the town painted red and the city rallying behind the team the Cents hope to get their first lead of the series tonight. Can the Cents pull it off as they embark on one last dance in the BCHL.

Gillard celebrates first BCHL Goal | Flohockey

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.

In two games in the playoffs the Silverbacks won 3-2 in overtime and then lost 3-2. After playing 5 out of 7 games at the Shaw Centre Salmon Arm leads this year’s series 4-3.

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 (81.6 %) (3rd)

Both teams have yet to score a PP goal this series.

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

Players to Watch:

Michael Felsing has a two goal game, Jaxson Murray has three points. Luke Pfoh is flying on that top line and CT Larochelle continues his late season torrid pace. Larochelle has 9 goals in his last 7 games. Andrew Ballantyne was also named 3rd then 2nd star of the game in back-to-back games. The top players for the Cents are carrying them right now while the glue guys are contributing in the toughness and defensive side of the game. 

For the Silverbacks Maddux Martin had a two goal game, Adam Boatter had two points while Eli Pulver has a GAA just under 2.50. Pulver had a GAA of 3.00 at the NVMA as the siren was sounded 6 times while he was here, maybe this could be an arena that he doesn’t thrive in. The Cents hope the siren at the NVMA gets in his head a little bit.  

Keys to the Game: 

Key number 1 – Play a full 60 minutes. The starts were great but the finishes were scary to say the least. When the Cents do best they use their speed, forecheck and make life tough for the opposition. They cannot afford to continue to take their foot off the gas pedal. 

Key Number 2 –  Feed off of the crowd. The first playoff game in Merritt in five years. These are the best crowds the team will get this year, and the players have to feed off of that energy. It’s going to be a fun atmosphere and I’m sure myself, Jared, the team and everyone involved has been waiting for this moment all season long. Today is the day.

Key number 3 – Use your size to your advantage. The Cents outmatch the Silverbacks in this category. They are definitely the bigger team, the tougher team and need to utilize that today. While the Silverbacks boast a plethora of skill, the Cents can outmatch them if they mix their own skill with their size advantage.