The latest contest in the Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ playoff series was an edge-of-your-seat affair that ended in favour of their Merritt hosts.
On the heels of their 5-1 Game 3 win against the Centennials at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on April 9, the Silverbacks faced off with the Cents again for Game 4 on April 10 – once again in Merritt.
First period saw a pair of early markers, the first a power-play conversion by Merritt’s Jaxson Murray (with Salmon Arm’s Nathan Mackie serving two-minutes for cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct), followed seconds later by an unassisted goal by the Silverbacks’ JJ Monteiro.
Approaching the period’s halfway mark, Sam Grabner grabbed a goal for Merritt. Seconds later, Maddux Martin tied it up for Salmon Arm, assisted by Adam Boatter. The period’s final goal was delivered at 17:55 by Merritt’s Zachary Losier.
Second period saw Merritt fortify its lead with a pair of goals, the first by Luke Pfoh and the second by Maks Percic. At 14:58, with the Silverbacks on the man advantage, Cole Cooksey potted an unassisted goal, bringing the score to 5-2 for Merritt before the period’s end.
Salmon Arm would have the last word, with Ryan Gillespie, assisted by Cooksey, rippling the mesh at 14:09 in the third period. This would be the last goal of the night, giving Merritt a 5-4 win. This leaves the teams with two wins apiece in the playoff series, which returns to Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm for Game 5 on Friday, April 12. Game time is 6 p.m.
Read more: Salmon Arm Silverbacks score a win in playoff opener