Game Day | CRA at TRA
The Trail Smoke Eaters are looking to avenge Wednesday’s 7-4 loss in Cranbrook.
They host the Bucks tonight, hoping the New Year’s Eve setback was an anomaly.
The Smokies had only given up a total of eight goals over the previous five contests heading into the first game following the Christmas break.
They had also only given up an average of 27 shots against during the first 26 games, but surrendered 37 two nights ago in the East Kootenay.
The Bucks took advantage of a pair of deflected passes that gave their shooters wide-open nets at point-blank range while opening a 4-1 lead in the second period.
But the Smokies battled back on a pair of power play goals from Cash Carter to reduce a pair of three-goal deficits and put Trail to within striking distance with just over five-and-a-half minutes to go in the third period. Carter now has a team-leading 13 goals.
The Bucks would put the game away with an empty net goal in the dying moments.
Another positive for Trail was Colton Whitfield’s second period snipe from the mid-point.
The screen-shot into the top of the net was his third goal and eighth point in 16 games since joining the Smokies. The 19-year-old who came to Trail from Tri City of the USHL is now the team’s top scoring defenseman.
Swedish defenseman Ted Welander scored his first goal as a Smokie, while winger Christian Kim’s assist was his seventh point over the past three games.
The Smokies also went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill on Wednesday according to the official scorer.
Forwards Matthew Gilmore and Mitch Patrick had a goal and an assist each for the Bucks, while centreman Samuel Lyne and defenseman Camden Charron had two assists each.
The Bucks now trail fourth place Vernon by five points with the Vipers holding a game in hand, while the Smokies are still four points back of division leading West Kelowna with a game in hand on the Warriors.
Trail leads the season series 2-1 and have a one-goal edge over the three games.
Opening face-off at Cominco Arena is set for 7 p.m. Good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.