A 3-0 lead in the first period proved precarious for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks but found a way to get the finish the job with a victory Friday night.
They beat the host Prince George Spruce Kings 4-3, sending the Kings to their third-straight loss, in front of 689 witnesses at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Noah Serdacnhy’s 24th goal of the season gave the Silverbacks a 4-1 lead, nine minutes into the second period, and the visitors hung on to their lead, despite getting outshot 15-4 in the third period.
Two goals in the opening period from Mathieu Cobetto-Roy, one on a power play at 4:02, the other at even strength at 8:03, put the Silverbacks in the driver’s seat, and Simon Tassey collected his 36th goal of the season 14 minutes in for a three-goal lead. The Kings got on the board with 14 seconds left in the period, a goal from Nick Rheaume.
John Herrington scored his 21st, one second before the end of the second period, to make it a 4-2 count, and Ty Gagnon connected on a Kings’ power play 7:14 into the third, but that’s as close as it got.
Owen Say had a busy night in goal for Salmon Arm, turning aside 37 of 40 shots. Aaron Trotter took the loss in goal for Prince George.
The Silverbacks (31-8-3-1-0, .767 winning percentage) remain second in the BCHL’s Interior Conference, six points ahead of the third-place Spruce Kings (25-11-3-7-0, .652).
The same teams meet again Saturday (7 p.m.) at RMCA.
