After Monday’s blocking of the sun by the moon, the Smokies are out to totally eclipse their 2-0 deficit to the Vipers in their BCHL opening round playoff series over the next two evenings, beginning tonight at Cominco Arena.
Vernon used home ice advantage to get two goals late in the third period, including an empty netter to take Friday’s opener 2-0 and scored four of five unanswered goals in the third period Saturday to post a 5-2 victory.
The Vipers got back-to-back goals just 23 seconds apart early in the third period of game two, just after the Smoke Eaters killed off a penalty and added a pair of power play goals later in the final frame on the same four-minute advantage.
Vipers goaltender Ethan David was named third star of the week for his 30-save shutout Friday, in which he made several crucial second period stops to keep the game scoreless and turned aside another 28 shots in Saturday’s win.
Both games were tight-checking and physical, with several heavy hits laid out by both teams.
Specialty teams have helped tell the tale of the first two games.
In addition to giving up the game winner Friday during a power play late in the third period, the Smokies have gone 0-for-8 with the man advantage in the first two games.
They will be looking to veterans and power play leaders Mathieu Cobetto-Roy, Adam Marshall, Adam Barone and Ethan Warrener to help them break through when they get manpower advantages on a power play that produced at a 24% rate during the second half of the season while posting a 16-8 record.
The Vipers put Saturday’s game away with a pair of power play goals in the third period and are 2-for-6 in the series. All of their manpower advantages came in game two.
The Smoke Eaters won all three home games over the Vipers during the regular season, including a highly emotional 6-2 victory during the last Cominco Arena clash on March 9.
Opening face-off for games three and four are set for 7 p.m. and good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
