The Kootenay kids conquered again.
The Smoke Eaters scored two unanswered third period goals to vanquish the vaunted Vipers 4-3 in Vernon.
Former Viper George Stavrianeas roofed a shot from the slot with just under seven minutes left in the third period to complete the comeback, sniping his first goal in a Smoke Eaters uniform.
Fellow 20-year-old and linemate Dylan Lariviere set up the game winner and scored the opening goal of the game in the first period to earn first star honours.
He tapped in a great pass from the boards by Max Hense twelve-and-a-half minutes into the game.
The Vipers tied the see-saw affair just over five minutes later when Michael Monroe redirected a 2-on-1 feed from newly acquired centreman Tyler Chiovetti.
He came over from Blackfalds along with 19-year-old defenseman Oscar Bjork earlier this week in a cash deal.
Bjork set up the go-ahead goal eleven-and-a-half minutes into the second period with a bank pass from the point off the back boards, right on to the stick of Sam Charko in front of the net and he made no mistake.
The Smokies got back on even terms just shy of the 18-minute mark during a 5-on-3 power play when Drew Anastasio’s shot from the high slot deflected past Vipers goalie Brendan Gee. Former Viper, Erik Pastro got credit for the goal. The officials didn’t confirm it as a good goal until after a long video review and long after the big score clock at Kal Tire Place showed the puck went in off the stick dropped by Vipers defenseman Seth Tansem.
However, former Smokie Evan Sundar would strike again against his former mates, going top shelf on a breakaway with just 1.4 seconds left in the period. It was Vernon’s second goal of the night during a 4-on-4 situation. Sundar also scored last Friday night to send the game into overtime.
The Smokies pressed early in the third period and it finally paid off at the 8:20 mark when rookie defenseman Gairin Michalski ripped a shot from the right wing boards over the shoulder of a screened Brendan Gee on a play started by Cade De St. Hubert’s courageous carrying of the puck through the Trail goal crease.
It looked as if Lariviere put Trail into the lead moments later on a crazy play.
The 6’6″ winger’s pass from the back boards bounced off a couple of Vipers and then off Lariviere and into the net. After video review, the officials ruled Lariviere gloved the puck.
Smokies goalie Cooper Michaluk saved his best work for the final frame, preserving the lead after the Stavrianeas goal with several big stops, including a breakaway save off a deking Sam Charko. An injured Michaluk also stopped the rebound after being run over by a Vipers forward in the mad scramble that ensued. He needed several minutes to recover.
Isaac Fecteau was a warrior all game.
The Smokies captain blocked shots, drew a third period penalty by taking a slash to the hand and was heroic in the final minute when Vernon was pressing with six attackers.
Fecteau absorbed the punishment from three Vipers forwards while pinning the puck along the boards in the corner for several seconds, then drew a high-sticking penalty from Vernon captain Deegan McMillan with 23-seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Trail outshot the Vipers 33-28, while going 1-for-8 on the power play and killed off all four Vernon advantages.
The Smokies put their 3-0 record on the line tonight in Chilliwack. The Chiefs who went to the BCHL final last season will be looking to avenge last night’s 6-1 loss to Coquitlam.
Opening face-off is at 6 o’clock, with all the action on Mixlr and FloHockey.
