Silverbacks Shutout Spruce Kings

By Kelly Sharp

Salmon Arm goalie Scott Gudmanson shutout Spruce Kings in playoff opener

Even the return of all-star defenseman Jeff Forsythe could not jump-start the Prince George Spruce Kings offense in game one of the BCHL Interior Conference quarter final series. The Salmon Arm Silverbacks controlled play for most of the night in a convincing 5-0 victory over the Spruce Kings before 705 at the Prince George Coliseum. Scott Gudmanson, who posted 38 saves for the shutout, needed to make only a couple of quality saves against the frustrated Spruce Kings forwards who struggled against the larger Salmon Arm defensemen.

“The guys do a great job of boxing out and clearing the guys out in front, I don’t have to do too much work, I make the first save and we are good to go.” Gudmanson said.

Former Prince George Cougar Cody McMullin scored two goals for the ‘Backs who held period leads of 1-0 and 3-0.  Justin Taylor added back-to-back third period goals with the result already not in doubt.

“I thought we out chanced them early in the first,” Kings assistant coach Stew Malgunas said. “If we bury one early it is a different game, for what ever reason they got the one easy goal and it took the wind out of our sails.”

 A perplexed Malgunas says there is too much pride in the Kings dressing room to not make this opening round a long series. The Prince George power play needs plenty of improvement going 0 for 7 in game one.

Joe Rodwell made 36 saves in a losing cause for the Kings who host the Silverbacks at 7 tonight in game two at the Prince George Coliseum.

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