Reilly Herbst got his first B.C. Hockey League shutout.
Elan Bar-lev-Wise scored his first goal of the season.
Both contributed to the Vernon Vipers’ big 2-0 win Saturday, Nov. 30, over the Silverbacks in Salmon Arm. It was the slumping Gorillas’ fifth consecutive loss.
Herbst made 34 saves to pick up his first league shutout while Bar-lev-Wise’s goal early in the first period turned out to be the game-winner.
Bar-lev-Wise ripped a shot over the glove of Gorillas’ goalie Ethan Langenegger to give Vernon the lead. The insurance goal came from Dawson Holt, his eighth of the year, off a scramble late in the second period.
READ MORE: Vernon Vipers eliminate Salmon Arm in 3OT
The game featured a spirited second-period scrap between the Vipers’ Jackson Caller and Luke Mylymok of the Silverbacks with Caller awarded the decision.
Langenegger made 29 saves as Salmon Arm fell to 19-10-11, good for third place in the Interior Division, two points behind the Trail Smoke Eaters, 3-2 losers at home Saturday to the Surrey Eagles, and seven back on the division-leading Penticton Vees, who blanked the Merritt Centennials 5-0.
Vernon improved to 15-12-1-1 and are in fifth place in the division, two points behind the Wenatchee Wild, who edged the Langley Rivermen 3-2 Saturday. The Vipers are eight points behind the Silverbacks, and 15 ahead of the sixth-place Centennials.
Merritt visits Vernon Friday (7 p.m., Kal Tire Place), the first of three games in three nights for the Vipers. Vernon hosts Wenatchee Saturday at 6 p.m. on Teddy Bear Toss Night (don’t forget to bring your stuffies and toss them on the ice when the Vipers score their first goal against the Wild).
The weekend concludes Sunday with a trip to Merritt.
SNAKE BITES: The Vipers placed goalie Max Palaga on long-term injured reserve, meaning his season with the team is done. Palaga was hurt Oct. 11 in a game against the Centennials…Vernon traded defenceman Brendan Kim to Surrey prior to Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Eagles at Kal Tire Place. Kim played for his new team but did not register a point. He had five assists in 20 games with Vernon this season. Kim, from Burnaby, had an assist in Surrey’s Saturday win at Trail.
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