GAME 4 PREVIEW: (3) Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ (6) Merritt Centennials – (Silverbacks lead series 2-1)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks —  (Leading series 2-1)

The Silverbacks look to put a stranglehold on the series today with a chance to take a 3-1 series lead home and eliminate the Centennials in five games this Friday in Salmon Arm. Last night they were the better team and exploded in the second period for three goals, scoring four unanswered after Michael Stenberg opened the scoring three minutes in. The Cents have their backs to the wall now and the Silverbacks coaching staff have hinted at killing off Merritt early in the series so they can have more rest heading into round two. This is a team that really believes they are going to roll over the Cents easily.

Merritt Centennials — (Trail series 2-1)

The Cents have to play desperate tonight as they look to tie the series 2-2 before Game Five Friday. Last night was a comedy of errors in the second period and a parade to the penalty box with 6 penalties taken including a five minute misconduct and a 5 on 3 to boot. On the plus sign the Cents have a chance to get a home playoff win today, shaking off the bad vibes from yesterday just 24 hours later. The Cents are going to have to play a much more structured and energetic brand of hockey if they want to avoid bussing to the Shaw Centre with a daunting 3-1 series deficit. Can the boys in red white and black avoid a 2019 repeat where they lost in five to the Smoke Eaters? Stay tuned folks. 

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 three games in the playoffs the Silverbacks won 3-2 in overtime and then lost 3-2. Last night’s 4-1 win gives them a 5-3 overall record against the Cents this year.

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)

The Cents have yet to score a powerplay goal in the series.

Centennials Bench | Connor Logan

Players to Watch:

Last night the top line got shut out by Salmon Arm’s defensively sound style of play. We didn’t hear the siren go off much at the NVMA and the Cents are going to have to have their best players playing like they did in Games One and Two if they’re going to have a shot in this series. Look for Luke Pfoh to have a big game tonight as we have yet to see his best in the series. 

For the Silverbacks Isaac Lambert is starting to become a thorn in the side of the Centennials with two goals in his last two games. 

Eli Pulver also remains the key in this series, the Cents have only scored six goals on the potential goaltender of the year in three games, a stat that doesn’t surprise anyone.

NVMA | Merritt Centennials

Keys to the Game: 

Key number 1 – Play a full 60 minutes. In all three games of this series Merritt has come out flying, scoring the first goal of the game then letting their foot off the gas. The Cents only have one second period goal in this series and zero goals in the third period. Merritt needs stronger finishes.

Key Number 2 – Watch the run and gun style of play. The team has to work as a five man unit and watch for possible defensive mishaps as they hung Ballantyne out to dry last night in the second period. The Cents need to box out the slot area and stop giving up easy opportunities to Salmon Arm.

Key number 3 – Use your size to your advantage. The Cents outmatch the Silverbacks in this category. Last night they didn’t really look like the bigger team however as they tried to outskill a more skilled team. Get back to playing Cents hockey and the series will be tied 2-2 after tonight.