One minute was the time it took for the Penticton Vees to bring the Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ playoff run to a close.
With both teams at three wins apiece, their Interior Conference Finals series went to Game 7, held Tuesday night (May 14) at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Following a scoreless first period, the Vees launched into the second frame with an early marker delivered by Zack Stringer, aided by Simon Meier and Larry Keenan.
At 13:03, Salmon Arm’s Cole Cooksey made use of a tripping penalty for the Vees’ Anselmo Rego to get the puck past Will Ingemann and get his team on the board, assisted by JJ Monteiro.
Around the halfway mark of the third period, the Silverbacks took the lead with two more goals, both delivered by Nathan Mackie. The first was at 8:52, assisted by Monteiro. The second, at 10:01, saw Patrick Raftery on the assist.
At 15:16, the Vees began to eat away at Salmon Arm’s lead with a goal delivered by Nolan Stevenson. Up until the last minute it looked as though the Silverbacks would take the game, but at 19:33, Conyr Hellyer slipped the puck past Eli Pulver to tie things up for Penticton. Thirteen seconds later, Stevenson would get his second goal of the night, assisted by Stringer and James Fisher, giving the home crowd the win they were waiting for.
Pulver wound up making 45 saves throughout the night, while Ingemann blocked 22 shots.
Read more: Salmon Arm Silverbacks push Penticton Vees to brink of elimination
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