Game Report | CV at TRA
Another slow start came back to bite the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The Coastal West Division leading Cowichan Valley Capital built a 3-0 lead in the first 13 minutes on their way to a 6-2 win at Cominco Arena.
Smokies goalie Chayse Johnson endured a 21-shot barrage in the first period and made several important saves, along with a few great ones.
The 18-year-old rookie from Trail turned in a superb 35-save performance earning third star honours.
Another two Smokies rookies shone on a difficult night.
Ryan Oothoudt scored both Trail goals, including one on a scintillating snap shot from the left-wing boards that caught the far post and careened into the top corner of the net, just past the five minute mark of the second period.
The 18-year-old also converted a Zach Coutu pass with a fine finish of a two-on-one break less than five minutes later to pull the Smokies to within a single goal of tying the contest.
Meanwhile, 6’4″ Swedish rookie Louis Jonerheim was flying in the second period.
The 19-year-old continually streaked down the left wing creating three scoring opportunities, including his own when he broke in alone, forcing Capitals goalie Rhett Stoesser to make a great save.
The Capitals seized back the momentum less than two minutes after Oothoudt’s second goal, scoring on the third shot of the same sequence and added two more goals in the third period including an empty netter with a minute and a half remaining.
The Captials, who are the top penalty killing team in the BCHL, killed off all four Trail advantages and have given up just two power play goals against on the road all season, making it 57 successful kills away from their home rink.
The Smokies killed off both Capitals power plays.
The loss combined with West Kelowna’s 4-3 win over Vernon vaults the Warriors into an eight point Interior West Division lead over the second place Smokies, who now have a record of 21-10 and still have a game in hand on West Kelowna.
The two teams will meet three more times in the next month.
The Smokies are off until January 20 because of the BCHL All Star break, when they hit the road for a single game in Spruce Grove, AB.
Their next home game is Saturday, January 24 against the Interior East Division leading Blackfalds Bulldogs. Grab your seats at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.