Feb. 18 / 08

By Guy Bertrand
Times Sports Editor

The Trail Smoke Eaters delivered playoff-type performances when they needed it the most and locked up a berth in the BCHL post-season.

The Smokies swept a pair of crucial games against the Prince George Spruce Kings and not only guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs but also inched closer to overtaking Prince George for fifth in the division.

Friday night at the Cominco Arena, Trail produced one of its best efforts in recent weeks as Casey Shade, Kevin Limbert and Brad Davis scored in a 3-0 shutout win.

Saturday, goaltender Grant Rollheiser turned aside 46 shots and Limbert scored with less than two minutes to go in the second overtime to lift Trail to a 2-1 win.

Those victories coupled with a pair of losses by the Quesnel Millionaires guaranteed Trail a first round playoff appearance.

"The fellas had a much deserved, I'd call it, 'a big exhale,' after (Saturday's) game" said Smokies head coach Jim Ingram.

"We struggled so much this year. It's been one of those years but it seems to be rounding into form at the right time."

Just as importantly, the wins also boosted the atmosphere around the Smokies dressing room and flashed the consistent effort the team has searched for all season.

"That's something we haven't had much of all year," added Ingram. "But when we went down to the Coast (last week) we struggled but at the same time found our legs. We got the consistency down there.

"I think a lot of it attributes to the guys buying into each other and working hard for each other. They seem to be a real unit for the first time this season."

Saturday, Limbert finished off a two-on-one break with August Aiken to net the winner with one minute and 15 seconds left in double overtime.

"It was a great position to be Saturday after our win on Friday," said Ingram. "We held everything in our hands."

Aiken spotted Trail a 1-0 lead with a goal late in the first but it would be Rollheiser's heroics that kept Prince George at bay.

The Kings fired 22 shots at the Trail net in the second period but only managed to get one past Rollheiser who finished the back- to-back weekend games allowing only one goal while stopping 75 shots.

"That second period was a nightmare," said Ingram. "We sort of went back to our old style of hockey. We took that intermission and touched on everything that made us successful before."

Friday, Shade produced a goal and an assist as the Smokies took it to the Kings. Trail outshot Prince George 42-28 and thanks to some physical and determined play, the Smokies stayed in control for the entire 60 minutes.

Davis delivered a couple of knockout blows, one in a firsi period fight, the other with a workman-like effort on the empty-net goal that sealed the victory.

Limbert scored another huge goal for Trail when he grabbed a rebound and scored to make it 2-0 with seven minutes left in regulaton time.

While Trail knows its in the playoffs, where they'll finish and who they'll play might not be determined for another 10 days.

The Smokies trail Prince George by a single point in the race for fifth and the Kings hold a game in hand. Prince George hosts Nanaimo next Friday then plays back-to-back games against the Millionaires on Feb. 26 and 27. The Smokies host Merritt next Friday and wrap up the regular season Sunday at the Cominco Arena against Salmon Arm.

BIG WEEKEND: Trail Smoke Eaters' captain Kevin Limbert is about to win this race for the loose puck against Prince George goaltender Kevin Genoe and pot Trail's second goal in Friday's 3-0 win. Limbed delivered another big goal Saturday in double overtime to lead Trail to a 2-1 win over Prince George.