Judah Makway’s two goals and Teagan Kendrick’s powerful 33-save performance paced the Trail Smoke Eaters to a 4-1 win over Penticton on a fiery Friday night at Cominco Arena.
Ridge Dawson got a gift just past the five minute mark as Vees defenseman Zach Nyman fanned on a pass from the corner, putting the puck on the Trail Captain’s stick in the slot and the 20-year-old ripped a rising wrister into the top corner.
Makway got his first goal three minutes later after a close call in front of the Smokies net. Defenseman Lucas Lemieux hit the 20-year-old from Trail with a long pass and Makway’s searing snapper from the left wing circle found the far corner.
The Vees, who came in with a 32.4% power play scored with the man advantage late in the period when Max Heise’s screen shot found the net at 18:34.
Kendrick was the star in a scoreless second period.
He robbed 15-year-old rookie Eli McKamey with a great glove save from in close and then while laying on his stomach with his legs spread from post-to-post, the 20-year-old stopped two point blank shots during a mad goalmouth scramble.
The Smokies put the game away early in the third period.
Dylan Lariviere put a burly backhander into the top of a wide-open net after great work by linemates Cade De St. Hubert and Josh Evaschesen just shy of the three minute mark.
Then Makway brought the 1,493 fans to their feet about two-and-a-half minutes later, deflecting the puck past Vees netminder Will Ingemann, converting a great give-and-go with linemates Evan Sundar and Gryphon Bucci.
The Smokies kept a pesky Penticton push at bay for the rest of the third period and when the Vees had opportunities, Kendrick was there to shut the door including a sterling stop on speedy Anselmo Rego who cruised through the crease.
The Smokies were 0-for-4 on the power play and killed off 2-of-3 Vees opportunities.
The Trail troupe travels to Salmon Arm for a Saturday night showdown against the Silverbacks, who are looking to rebound from Friday’s 4-0 home-ice loss to Vernon.
It’s a chance for the Smokies to leap past Salmon Arm and into second place in the BCHL’s Interior West Division.
Friday’s win leaves the Smokies just two points back of the division-leading Vees.
The game against the Silverbacks, starting at 6 p.m. can be heard on Mixlr and watched on FloHockey.
