Game Day | TRA at SPC

The Trail Smoke Eaters were plagued by poor puck luck and a pivotal third period penalty call in a 5-2 loss to the Saints on a jam-packed Friday night at Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove.

The Saints opened the scoring on Steven Kirkpatrick’s breakaway goal about 13-minutes into the game.

Smokies goalie Teagan Kendrick got a piece of his backhander while Kirkpatrick crossed through the crease, but the puck dribbled over the red line.

Saints goalie Ryan De Kok robbed Smokies centreman Judah Makway on two point blank attempts during a Smokies power play and on the same advantage Ridge Dawson ripped a shot off the crossbar.

Moments later, Zach Coutu blasted a point shot through traffic off the crossbar and the officials couldn’t find conclusive evidence the puck went under the bar after video review.

The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a pair of second period goals by Matheson Mason.

The first came from close range just past the two-minute mark and the other almost three minutes later on a one-timer from the right wing circle that knuckled off his stick.

The Smokies bounced back on Coutu’s shot from the slot at 11:37 and Makway’s stuffing of a Jack Kennedy rebound from the point less than a minute later.

It looked as if Trail tied the game when Lucas Lemieux jammed in a loose puck during a goalmouth scramble, but the goal was called back after a long video review that determined De Kok was unable to make the save because of contact in the crease.

The pivotal penalty call came just before the 14-minute mark of the final frame, with Trail pressing throughout the third period.

Isaac Fecteau was called for roughing despite taking a glove to the face on a mild collision at the Trail blueline. The Smokies were also assessed a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, putting the Saints on a 5-on-3 power play.

Carson Lloyd scored less than a minute later on a point shot and a shot that went the length of the ice into Trail’s empty net at 18:23 sealed the victory.

The Smokies outshot the Saints 32-27, went 0-for-6 on the power play, with the Saints going 2-for-7.

The road trip wraps up tonight in Sherwood Park, with Trail leading the season series 2-1.

The last two games in Trail have been impressive offensive displays by two of the league’s top scoring teams, with the Smokies winning both by 7-4 scores.

The Crusaders won the lone game in Sherwood Park 6-3 on September 28.

Sherwood Park has the top two point producers in the BCHL. Jeremy Loranger has 82 points, 11 more than line mate Kale Dach, who leads the league with 54 assists.

The Crusaders are winless in their last four home games including last night’s 5-2 setback to Coquitlam.

The game on Mixlr and FloHockey gets underway at 6 p.m. Pacific.