Warriors click in all the right places in win over Silverbacks
The West Kelowna Warriors special teams shined with two power play goals and a 34-save performance from goalie Nik Amundrud to earn a 4-1 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.
The Warriors weíre able to kill off a pair of penalties early in the game and it was a power play that gave West Kelowna a 1-0 lead in the Àrst period.
RJ Murphy Ànished off a goalmouth scramble on the glove side of Silverback netminder Bo Didur for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at the 11:28 mark.†
Warriors captain Jared Marino added to the lead just before the Àrst frame was out at the 19:18 mark with a shot from the right wing just above the goal line that Didur got a piece of as the puck rolled across the goal line for the 2-0 Warrior advantage.
The Warriors’ successful penalty-killing streak came to an end in the second period as Austin Chorney Àred a shot through a maze of bodies for a power play goal that cut the Silverbacks deÀcit to one goal.
That would be all the scoring for the second period as both teams locked down defensively with a few big saves including a breakaway stop by Amundrud on Rhett Kingstonwith his blocker.
The Melfort, Sask., native made nine saves in the second period and stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced through 40 minutes. Didur was solid in the second stanza for Salmon Arm, turning aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced through a pair of periods.†
The Warriors power play went back to work on a Àve-on-three opportunity in the third period and regained their two-goal lead at the 4:50 mark as Chase Stevenson got a pass from Parm Dhaliwal at the top of the slot and Àred a shot low to the glove side for his third goal of the season and a 3-1 Warriors lead.
Salmon Arm tried to get back in the game late with an empty net but a broken stick cost them as the defender tried to kick the puck behind the goal with Bennett Norlin forechecking. Norlin took the loose puck and slipped it into the empty net for his second goal of the season and gave the Warriors a 4-1 win.†
Nik Amundrud was solid in the Warriors crease on the night with 34 saves on 35 shots for his 4th victory of the season while Bo Didur also had a strong night for the Silverbacks with 35 saves on 38 shots in the defeat.†
The Warriors (7-3-0-0) visited the Surrey Eagles (3-6-1-1) on Tuesday night. West Kelowna returns home on Friday to face-off against the Wenatchee Wild.
The Warriors have introduced a new Fanítatstic Five ticket package that gives fans a chance to experience five of the most highly anticipated games of the season for $55.55 with games against the Wenatchee Wild, Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Vernon Vipers and Victoria Grizzlies. For more information, visit the Warriors ofÀce or call 250-769-7051.