The Salmon Arm Silverbacks continue to have the West Kelowna Warriors’ number at Royal LePage Place.
Salmon Arm have picked up five of a possible six points at RLP following a 4-1 victory over the Warriors before the largest crowd of the season, nearly 1,400 fans.
Adam Clark was the difference between the pipes for the Silverbacks, turning aside 37 shots, as the Warriors outshot the visitors 38-19 but were unable to get timely goals when the opportunity presented itself.
At the other end, Steven Myland, making his first start in a Warriors uniform, let in a couple he would like to have back.
"We give up four goals on 18 shots. We spotted them three goals" says Warriors coach Rylan Ferster who liked his team's effort for much of the game.
"Giveaways and it's in our net. That's the difference for me.”
The Warriors came out of the gate quickly, peppering Clark with shot after shot over the first six or seven minutes, but it was Salmon Arm which was able to strike first.
Seconds after a Warriors power-play expired Brandon Mistal found a loose puck behind Myland and jammed it home to give the Silverbacks an early 1-0 lead.
Marcus Basara tied it when he pounced on a rebound and sent a wrist shot from the right circle past Clark for his team leading 17th of the year.
Bryden Marsh made it 2-1 just over a minute later, beating Myland far side with a weak shot from the left faceoff circle.
Alex Gillies in the second and Ryan Schwalbe in the third rounded out the scoring for the Silverbacks.
Gillies and Schwalbe each had an assist to go along with their goals.
Ferster says the Silverbacks are a far different and better team than the one the Warriors beat 6-0 in the opening game of the season down in Chilliwack.
"They work hard and they pounced on their opportunities tonight so give them full marks," says Ferster.
"We didn't probably pounce on a couple of opportunities we needed and that's why we lose 4-1."
The Warriors, winless in their last three, get a chance for immediate payback when the teams faceoff again Saturday night in Salmon Arm.
Friday's loss leaves the Warriors in third place in the tight Interior Division.
Get more insight at The General’s Report.
