SILVERBACKS BLANK EXPRESS

Brandon Kegler save on Luca Leone - Photo courtesy of Damon James.

Brandon Kegler made 22 saves as the the Salmon Arm Silverbacks shutout the Express 3-0 Sunday.

It was the fourth time in the last seven games the Express had failed to score a goal.

Hayden Knight - Photo courtesy of Damon James.

The Express got off to a good start in the first half of the first period, they had an early 8-3 advantage in shots but just couldn't beat Kegler.

Then just 20 seconds into a Cal Walker hooking penalty Carson Bolduc scored on the power play ripping a shot up stairs on Reid Cooper.

Five minutes later Salmon Arm struck again. Grayson Constable's shot was stopped by Reid Cooper, the Express did a good job clearing the rebound immediately, but they didn't see Justin Wilson on the other side who picked off the clearing attempt and snapped it home for a 2-0 Salmon Arm lead.

The Express found themselves getting into penalty trouble in the second period with three minors in just over a five minute span. Mitch Skapski made the Express pay for one of their indiscretions jamming in a loose puck for a 3-0 Silverbacks lead.

R. Cooper & Jake Toor - Photo courtesy of Damon James.

With a 5-2 advantage in powerplays for Salmon Arm entering the third period, things began to even up in the third with the Express getting three separate powerplays including a short two man advantage but the Express couldn't convert. Thanks in part to some good work on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks PK by Josh Blanchard. He played a strong game pressuring the Express powerplays up ice giving them trouble breaking out of their zone.

The Express only managed to fire 6 shots in the third period.

The next two weekends the Express are on the road for a pair of double headers in Prince George and Wenatchee.