Derek Huisman scored two power play goals and Mitch Gillam made 26 saves to help lead the Chiefs to a 4-1 win in Salmon Arm Saturday night.
The win was the sixth straight for the Chiefs who improve to 18-9-0-1 on the season.
Gillam was the busiest and best player on the ice in the opening period.
The Silverbacks carried the play, benefitted from three power plays and outshot the Chiefs 12-3 but thanks to Gillam’s heroics the period ended scoreless.
Two minor penalties to Salmon Arm defenseman James Friedel late in the period put the Chiefs on an extended power play to start the second period.
Chilliwack needed just 64 seconds to take advantage. With the puck at the point Alex Perron-Fontaine had everyone thinking he was going to shoot but instead he delivered a perfect pass to Derek Huisman at the side of the net who quickly put the puck behind Salmon Arm goaltender Kurt Williams for this 15th goal of the season. David Thompson also assisted on the goal.
Salmon Arm tied the game when a low point shot by Bennett Hambrook at 8:07 of the middle frame found its way through a maze of sticks and skates before deflecting off a Chiefs defenseman and into the Chiefs net. Jeff Kennedy picked up the only assist.
Chilliwack was given another four minutes of power play time when Brett Knowles was sent off for a high stick on Chiefs defenseman Mike Berry with 3:37 to go in the period. Tyler Miller came close early in the power play when his shot clanked off the crossbar. With five seconds left in the period Huisman struck again with his 2nd of the game, 16th of the season to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead after two. Perron-Fontaine and Malcolm Gould earned the assists.
Mathieu Tibbet’s third goal of the season with 7:37 left on the third period clock gave the Chiefs a 3-1 cushion. Josh Hansen made a nice play carrying the puck in behind the Silverbacks net before spotting a wide open Tibbet in front.
Late in the period with Chiefs forward Kit Sitterley serving a minor for slashing, the Silverbacks pulled goaltender Walker for a six on four advantage but were unable to capitalize.
As Sitterley stepped out of the box he found the puck on his stick and put the puck into the empty net to make the final 4-1.
Final shots in the game favored Salmon Arm 27-23.
Notes: The Chiefs are now a perfect 10-0-0-0 when scoring first…The longest winning streak in Chiefs history was 12 games during the 1995-96 season…during their current six game win streak the Chiefs have allowed just 10 goals.
