Game Day | TRA at SA
The Smokies play their lone game of the weekend tonight in Salmon Arm.
It’s likely a preview of the first round of the playoffs.
Trail is 3-2 in the season series with two wins in Salmon Arm, including a 4-3 shootout victory during the opening weekend of the season, which leaves the Silverbacks 2-2-0-1 in head-to-head matchups.
Their most recent tilt was a 5-3 Trail victory at Cominco Arena on January 3.
Zach Coutu and Erik Pastro led the way that night with a goal and an assist each.
Coutu leads all players in the season series with two goals and three assists. Coutu and Pastro have been reunited with rookie Ryan Oothoudt on the new line.
The Smokies ended a four game slump with last Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Interior East division leading Blackfalds Bulldogs and the new trio combined on the game’s opening goal.
Brayden Sinclair notched the game winner late in the second period to extend his consecutive game points streak to seven.
The victory also marked the triumphant and sensational return of goalie Cooper Michaluk after a three-month recuperation from a partially torn hamstring.
The Silverbacks are coming off a 7-2 home ice loss to Sherwood Park and are seven points back of the second place Smokies with Trail holding a game in hand.
The showdown in Salmon Arm will be the Smokies debut for defenseman Cole Hutchinson.
The 19-year-old right-shot rearguard was acquired from Chilliwack for future considerations. The native of East Lansing, Michigan split last season between the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL and the Tri City Storm of the USHL.
The 6-foot, 185-lb blue liner had eight goals and 22 points in 62 games.
Opening face-off at Rogers Rink is at 7 p.m. with all the action available on FloHockey and Mixlr.
Fans are also invited to gather at the Trail Curling Club to watch the game. The doors open at 6:15 and the bar will be open. The kitchen will be closed so spectators are welcome to bring their own food.
The next home games at Cominco Arena are Wednesday (vs Cranbrook) and Friday (vs West Kelowna). Both games start at 7 p.m. Good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.