Photo Credit: Garrett James and Pure Life Photography
The Merritt Centennials (17-9-1-1) won’t get much rest as they welcome the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (14-10-1-0) to the NVMA tonight.
The Cents are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Smokies struck in the first period and held that lead until the third. Brad Cocca tied the game at 1 with his 40th point of the season and send the game to OT. However, in overtime the Cents and Vincent Duplessis would be victimized by a tough goal call after a goal line drive was stopped, but Duplessis was ruled to have fallen too far behind the goal line and the refs ruled Trail the winners.
The Cents will look to rebound against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and they lead the season series 3-1. The Silverbacks took the season opener 4-2, but the Cents have since come back with wins 5-2 in Salmon Arm, 5-0 at home, and 3-2 in Salmon Arm for the edge.
The most recent contest came just last weekend, where the Cents won a bit of a wild one. Christian Sabin opened the scoring in Salmon Arm, but the game hinged on a 5-minute major against Matt Kopperud (which after tonight will mark game 3 of 4 in his suspension). On that major, Nick Granowicz scored two shorthanded goals to negate the two powerplay goals the ‘Backs scored. In the third, the Cents and Austin Roden hung on for the 3-2 victory.
The Cents return home where they are one of the most successful teams in the BCHL, and hope the offense will come back to life following a rare one-goal output in Trail. They’ll have to put their return home road legs to the test.
Cocca continues to lead the Cents with 40 points, Nick Granowicz has 37, and Mathieu Gosselin has 32.
The Silverbacks are led by Matthew Verboon with 22 points, Trevor Adams with 19 points, and Hudson Schandor with 18 points.
The special teams battle sees the Silverbacks with the edge.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
‘Backs – 19.8% (8th) Backs – 82.4% (8th)
Cents – 17.8% (12th) Cents – 75.9% (16th)
The goaltending battle sees Austin Roden winning his last 3 starts including the last two contests against the Silverbacks including the lone shutout of the year. Austin Roden is 11-5 with an .894 SV%, a 3.51 GAA, and 1 shutout. Vincent Duplessis is now 6-3-2 with a .908SV% and a 3.13 GAA. The Silverbacks have relied on Ethan Langenegger and Matthew Armitage this season. Langenegger is 9-8 with a .909 SV% and a 3.03 GAA. Armitage is 3-2 with a .925 SV%, a 2.50 GAA, and 1 shutout.
Head Coach Joe Martin says the Cents will have to battle the road warrior stigma.
“There will be a lot made of the road trip we just made to Trail, and how they can come in and take advantage. We have to make sure we are ready to play, and play our game to give them a stiff test.”
The Cents will hope to pass the test against the Silverbacks tonight.
For all fans who show up to the game, make sure you drop by the Xplornet booth for your chance to win a $100 gift card.
Puck Drop 7pm. Pre-Game 6:45 on Hockey TV and Q101.ca with Jared Thomas
