The Trail Smoke Eaters six game home winning streak ended Friday night with a 5-2 setback against their Kootenay rival, the Cranbrook Bucks.
The visitors struck early on a power play with Kaslo Ferner hitting the top corner after a cross-crease pass just past the two minute mark.
The Smokies pushed back and came close to tying the game moments later when Bronson Hunt’s shot from close range clanged off the post.
Trail did equalize about eight minutes into the period on Cooper Struckel’s low snipe from the slot.
The Bucks regained a lead they wouldn’t relinquish about seven minutes later when Teo Pisani tapped in a cross-crease pass to finish an odd man rush and with just 30-seconds left in the opening period, Grant Denuccio found the top corner from close range to give Cranbrook a 3-1 lead after twenty minutes.
A major turning point came about seven minutes into the second period.
The Smokies swarmed during a 4-on-3 power play, but Bucks goalie Jason Tremblay made three sensational saves on the same shift, proving to be the Bucks best penalty killer during that advantage.
Cranbrook extended their lead about five minutes later when Konstantin Hutzinger won the face-off and Ferner deflected in a Cam Charron shot from the point.
The Bucks essentially put the game away with just under three minutes remaining in the second period when Shane Tronoski buried another cross-crease pass, scoring his second goal in just his second game of the season.
The Bucks played a frustrating neutral zone trap throughout the third period limiting Trail to a single goal on a late power play.
Erik Pastro snapped in a one-timer from the left-wing circle, for his 11th goal of the season.
The highlight of the final frame was the fight between Smokies winger Zach Coutu and Bucks blueliner Holden Carter, with Coutu landing a haymaker to Carter’s nose and scoring the takedown.
Cranbrook outshot Trail 30-19. The Smokies were 1-for-3 on the power play and killed off 3-of-4 Bucks advantages.
The Bucks swept the home-and-home series, marking just the second time this season Trail has lost two games in a row.
The Smokies host Salmon Arm tonight with the Silverbacks coming off a 7-5 Friday night win in Vernon. Luke Sinclair led the Salmon Arm attack with four goals and one assist, while Anthony Preskar made an impressive debut scoring once and assisting on four goals.
The season series between the Smokies and Silverbacks is tied at two games each.
Game time at Cominco Arena is set for 7 p.m. Good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
