Game: Salmon Arm Silverbacks vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:15pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:45pm
Kings Broadcast Network
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings Record: 10-7-0-5 (T-2nd Island)
Opposition Record: 8-8-2-4 (5th Interior)
Kings PP: 27/102 (26.47%, 3rd) Opponent PK: 70/88 (79.55, 7th)
Opponent PP: 21/87 (24.14%, 7th) Kings PK: 76/101 (75.25%, 13th)
The Kings have won their last two games by 4-3 and 6-1 scores over Alberni and Chilliwack respectively. Through the calendar month of November, the team is 4-1-0-1 with the only game without a point coming in Victoria (4-2). Salmon Arm are locked in an intense battle for playoff spots in the Interior division and are coming off a 3-3 tie at home to Coquitlam on Sunday at the end of a 3-in-3 home weekend. The team is 2-2-2-1 this month, a record that reflects (on paper) how their season has gone so far. The Silverbacks will head over to Vancouver Island Saturday for a date with the Capitals in Duncan, before heading home via Chilliwack on Sunday.
- The most popular question surround the team from fans this week has been the status of Jarid Lukosevicius. For those who missed it, Luko took an aided tumble into the end wall at the start of Friday’s 2nd period against Chilliwack. The main impact was to the back of his head and top of his spine and although he was able crawl off the ice, he did leave the rink and head to hospital on a stretcher as a precaution. The good news is that he has suffered no concussion symptoms, and appears no worse for wear outside of a pretty large gash on his forehead which required stitches.
- Staying with Luko, he was able to register two assists in Friday’s 1st period to keep his point streak alive at 5 games (2-7-9). Also alive are Kurt Keats (4-2-6 in 5) and Jacob Pritchard (9 points in last 5, including 6 in last 2).
- Also streaking is Brett Magnus, who is 5-1 with a 1.65GAA and .955 sv% in his last 6 starts and has a record back at 500 for the first time this season.
- This is the first meeting between these two clubs since January 10th in Powell River, a 3-1 Kings win. Lucas Grayson, Kurt Keats and Luke Nogard got a goal in each period for the victory, with Jonah Imoo stopping 24/25. The Silverbacks were very shorthanded in that game as they had a bout of the flu sweeping through their club and only dressed 15 skaters
- The Powell River-Cowichan-Chilliwack road trip ahead of the Silverbacks is their first sizable trip outside of the Division this season and just their 2nd trip to (and past) the lower mainland this season. Previous visits “south” resulted in a 2-0 Showcase weekend in Chilliwack, and a 3-2 OTL against Surrey at the start of October.
- Salmon Arm went 2/9 in 3 games on the powerplay last weekend, but gave up just 1 goal on 11 shorthanded chances. A middle of the pack powerplay and penalty kill at this point in the year means its been a consistent, albeit not reliable to break a game open like the Kings have enjoyed this year. The Kings continue to chug along nicely on the man advantage, getting all 4 goals on Tuesday, then another 1 (plus a shortie) on Friday against Chilliwack.
- Friday will be just the 4th game this season against an Interior Division opponent and the Kings are still looking for win number 1 after losses in regulation to Trail and Merritt, and an overtime loss to the Smokies at the Showcase.
- The Silverbacks are led in scoring by 2nd year defenceman and Air Force commit Andrew Farny who has 7 goals and 16 assists on the season. He leads a solid, but inexperienced back end with only Cole McCaskill the only other returning face on the blue line. That point is countered slightly by 3rd year goaltender Angus Redmond, who after 2 seasons backing up and splitting time with Adam Clark gets his time to shine as the starter.
It’s a 7:15pm faceoff at the Hap Parker Arena. Valley Building Supplies are on the docket tonight with lots of prize giveaways, and always put on a good show at the rink. If you can’t make it to the game, I’ll have the call for you live on the Network beginning at 6:45.
