Any coach could take video from Tuesday night’s 3-1 Smoke Eaters victory in Cranbrook and use it to show their team how to win on the road.
Trail forechecked, backchecked and was determined while defending behind their blue line.
Goalie Teagan Kendrick then closed the door when the Bucks had opportunities.
Kendrick was stellar, racing across the net to make back-to-back-to-back saves at about the midway point, before the Smokies broke the scoring ice just before the 17-minute mark.
Gryphon Bucci stole the puck just outside the Bucks blueline, moved down the left wing and saucered a sensational pass to a wide open Dylan Lariviere, who quickly ripped in the ice breaker.
Trail opened a two-goal lead three-and-a-half minutes into the second period.
Zach Coutu took a long pass from Christian Kim, circled back when his route to the net was closed, then snapped a shot from the high slot off the trapper of Cranbrook goalie Jaden Cholette and the puck fluttered over the goal line, to the back of the net.
The Bucks finally put the puck past Kendrick just before the nine-minute mark on the power play.
Nelson’s Bryce Sookro blasted home a cross-seam pass from the left-wing circle for his first goal of the series.
Both teams battened down their defenses with extended zone time for either very few and far between.
The Smokies found themselves facing several defensive zone faceoffs in the third period, the majority of those were won by Cade De St. Hubert, who was also out for several shifts during the 1:44 when the Bucks had six attackers.
He assisted on Josh Evaschesen’s empty net goal with 14-seconds remaining.
Christian Kim also assisted on that goal in addition to the Coutu marker. Coutu and Lariviere have two goals each in the series.
Kim and De St. Hubert lead the Smokies with three points each through the first three games.
Kendrick’s goals against average in the series stands at 1.59, with a save percentage of .934.
Game four of what has been an intense and physical affair is tonight in Cranbrook at 6 p.m. Pacific, with the game five Cominco Arena clash coming at 7 p.m. Friday and good seats are still available for that game at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
All Smokies playoff action can be listened to to Mixlr or watched on FloHockey.
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