The West Kelowna Warriors couldn’t complete a comeback on Tuesday night at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, falling 2-1 to the Silverbacks as their BCHL first round playoff series is now tied at two.
After a scoreless first period, Colton Thibault got the ‘Backs on the board with a nice move below the circles and slipped it over top of the Warriors netminder Matthew Greenfield.
Before the end of the period, Ross Heidt was given a gifted a breakaway and made no mistake, backhand shelf to give the ‘Backs the 2-0 lead and a heavy edge on the shot clock.
In the third, the Warriors came out flying, firing six of the first seven shots on goal and trying to find their first goal.
It would be Redmond’s show down the stretch, making three memorable saves, robbing Marino twice, and then he stymied Jonathan Desbiens between the hashmarks in the final six minutes that had the Warriors forward shaking his head.
A last minute power play flurry with the net empty did not produce the equalizer as the buzzer ended the game.
The series now becomes a best-of-three series, with the Warriors hosting Game five on Friday night at 7 p.m., before heading back to Salmon Arm Saturday at 7 PM. Game seven if needed will be at Royal LePage Place at 7 p.m. Sunday night.