The Spruce Grove Saints saw the finale of their three-game road trip end in defeat on Sunday evening in Salmon Arm, dropping a 5-3 score to the Silverbacks at Rogers Rink.
A former Saint got the scoring going in the opening frame with Keifer Miller getting the game’s opening goal, redirecting a shot from Anthony Cardilli in the right face-off circle to push past Saints netminder Joseph Quintilio and help the home side to the early advantage.
Spruce Grove came back and got the game on even terms with their first power play of the game and it was Declan Waddick scoring for the second consecutive contest. Waddick took a James Richards pass in the left face-off circle and fired a shot past the blocker side of Maverick Avent for his 3rd goal of the season and levelled the score at 1-1.
The Silverbacks took the lead back moments later as the Saints had trouble clearing the puck out of their own zone and led to Jack Toogood getting an opportunity at the front of the net to take a rebound and get past the glove side of Quintilio that forced Salmon Arm ahead by a goal into the 2nd period.
Brady Logue added to the Silverbacks lead in the middle frame after having a puck deflect off him going to the net from a Mateu Spath in the corner that gave Salmon Arm a 3-1 advantage.
As they did all night, the Saints fought to get back in the game and within a goal in the 2nd period as Felix Haiböck collected his team-leading 7th tally of the season. Richards collected the puck in the slot as Haiböck redirected it past the glove side of Avent to get Spruce Grove within a marker.
Cole Longacre added to the Silverbacks lead with the first of his two goals coming at the tail end of the 2nd period. Longacre’s shot from the left face-off circle hit the back bar and shot out on the glove side of Quintilio and, after a lengthy review, was ruled a goal to push Salmon Arm ahead by two into the 3rd period.
Michael Azzarone cut the deficit to one goal in the game’s final five minutes after deflecting a shot from Connor Lee at the right point that squeaked through the blocker side of Avent for his second goal of the season and pushed the Saints back to within a goal.
Longacre stopped any attempt of a comeback with a power play goal with under two minutes remaining that gave Salmon Arm a 5-3 lead late in the game.
Joseph Quintilio made 27 saves on 32 shots in his 2nd loss of the season while Maverick Avent turned aside 21 of the 24 shots thrown his way in his 2nd win of the season.
The Saints are back on home ice on Friday night for First Responders Night as they host the Vernon Vipers at Thompson Family Arena at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for purchase online at tickets.sgsaints.ca.
