Josh Schenk’s second goal of the night, just past the three minute mark of the third period broke the tie and stood up as the winner in a 4-3 Trail Smoke Eaters victory over the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The Cominco Arena crowd of 1,329 witnessed another entertaining and chippy affair as the Smoke Eaters registered their first victory of the season.
The visitors opened the scoring 4:32 into the game when Jacob Bonkowski finished a three-way passing play, scoring from the right-wing circle during a 5-on-3 power play.
The Smoke Eaters applied constant pressure in the Silverbacks zone with a tenacious forecheck and it paid off just shy of the 12-minute mark when Schenk got the home side back on even terms, flipping home a rebound during a goal-mouth scramble.
The Smokies got off to a great start in the middle frame with two quick goals.
Max Potvin fired his second goal of the season before the period was a minute old, snapping a sizzler from the left wing circle into the top corner.
Captain Ethan Warrener extended the lead to 3-1 at 1:38 when his shot from the point went in off a Salmon Arm defender’s skate.
Then Trail’s penalty kill was put to the test and it passed with flying colours.
It battled to keep the Silverbacks power play at bay during a two-man disadvantage for 1:26, shortly after opening the two-goal lead.
However, the visitors would strike twice late in the period.
Zach Nicolas tapped in a puck that got in behind Smoke Eaters goalie Ryan Parker at 16:24 and they tied the game with just 15-seconds left in the period when a rebound went in off the skate of Reid Varkonyi. All four officials huddled to discuss the play and ruled it was a good goal.
The Smokies counted the winner when Salmon Arm’s 16-year-old goalie Ryan Grout came well out of the net to play the puck in the left wing corner. The gamble backfired when the puck ended up in the crease where Schenk was perfectly positioned for the tap in.
Trail carried the play for much of the third period, outshooting the Silverbacks 15-6 and defended well during the final 1:35 when Grout was pulled for a sixth attacker.
Schenk had a chance for the hat-trick, but missed the open net from just inside centre.
The Smoke Eaters outshot the visitors 36-32 and went 0-for-3 on the power play, while killing off 3-of-4 Salmon Arm advantages, including the extended 5-on-3 situation.
Trail (1-0-2) has a Saturday night date with the Warriors in West Kelowna and a chance to avenge last Saturday’s 5-4 overtime loss at Cominco Arena.
The Warriors (2-1) hope to rebound from a 2-1 Fri night loss to the visiting Cranbrook Bucks.
Heading into their fourth games of the season, the Smoke Eaters and Warriors find themselves in a six-way tie for first place in the Interior Conference.
Puck drop is at 7pm and Smokies fans can listen live on Mixlr or watch the action on FloHockey.
