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Two red-hot teams will face off tonight when the Penticton Vees host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees have compiled five of a possible six points in their last three games - all of which went into overtime - coming from behind in the third period to tie each one.
Unfortunately for the Vees, their opponent Friday night, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, have won four-straight games, putting each team at 25 points in the tightly-contested British Columbia Hockey League’s Interior Division.
On Wednesday evening in Vernon, Ryan Sandelin’s power-play goal with 5:37 to play sent the Vees into overtime against the Vipers. James Miller tallied with a power-play goal of his own early in the second period, his 10th goal of the season.
The Vees started overtime on a 4-on-3 power play. It took just 32 seconds for Eric Linell to wire home the game winner, capping off a three-point performance.
The streaking Silverbacks will try and make it five wins in a row in tonight’s contest.
After regulation wins at home against Trail and Prince George Oct. 27 and 28, the Silverbacks went into Kal Tire Place in Vernon and took down the Vipers 4-3 in a shootout. Salmon Arm tied the game with just 10 seconds left in regulation before going 2-for-2 in the shootout to get the win
The victory was Salmon Arm’s first road win of the season in their seventh game away from the Shaw Centre.
The win may have given Salmon Arm some confidence on the road as they went to Prospera Centre in Chilliwack three days later and took down the defending national champion Chiefs 4-3.
The Vees have played Salmon Arm just once so far this season, a 3-2 shootout loss Oct. 12.
That night, the Vees outshot the Silverbacks by a hefty 41-27 margin, but Ethan Langenegger turned in a stellar performance in net before the Silverbacks went 3-for-3 in the shootout.
Ryan Sandelin and Jack Lagerstrom provided the offence for Penticton.
Numerous parents of Vees’ players are in the South Okanagan to attend weekend games as the Vees also host Trail Saturday night at the SOEC.
For more on the Vees, click here.