Salmon Arm, BC: The Vipers put up 36 shots and their PK was a perfect 5 for 5, but Matthew Tovell was the difference as the Vipers fell 3-0 in the season opener in Salmon Arm.
The first period was a little choppy with both teams having issues completing passes. A lot of time was spent in the neutral zone as both teams worked to establish a forecheck. The Vipers had two looks on the powerplay, the first one struggled, the second one generated some chances but no results. The Viper PK killed off their only chance as the period ended scoreless.
The Vipers spent a good chunk of the first five minutes of the second period in the Salmon Arm zone, with a handful of good shifts stacked together. Julian Facchinelli had the best chance but was robbed by Tovell on a cross ice pass. The Backs got on the board moments later as Isaac Lambert converted on a chance down low to make it 1-0. A few minutes later as the Vipers were trying to set up on the powerplay, Nathan Mackie was sprung on a breakaway and snapped it five hole on Roan Clarke to make it 2-0. The Vipers more than doubled the Backs in shots, but again couldn’t get the bounce they needed.
In the third, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell had the best chance but just missed up high as the Vipers remained down by a pair. Ethan Ullrick hit the empty net in the final minute to make the final 3-0.
The Vipers will look for some redemption Saturday night when they host the Silverbacks at Kal Tire Place.
