The All Star break is over and it’s back to business for the Trail Smoke Eater tonight in Spruce Grove.
The Smokies want to rebound from a 1-and-4 start to the second half including recent back to back losses at home to West Kelowna and Cowichan Valley.
And they will have to do it against the hottest team in the BCHL.
The Saints have won five straight games including a 4-2 decision against Brooks in their last contest on January 10.
This is the second meeting of the season series.
The Smokies rebounded from deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 to win 7-4 in Spruce Grove on October 3.
Erik Pastro, Christian Kim and Cash Carter were already in Spruce Grove when the team arrived Monday night after taking part in All Star weekend.
Pastro scored for Team Interior in their 5-3 win over the Coast in the Top Prospects Game.
Carter scored in Team Canada’s 7-2 win over Team World in the All Star Game, while Kim had an assist for Team World.
Coach and GM Eric Thurston was an assistant for the Interior in the Prospects Game and Head Coach of Canada in the All Star Game.
The big difference for the Smokies lately has been goals against.
After giving up a total of just eight goals over the last five games before the Christmas break, Trail has been scored on 26 times, including two empty net goals.
Scoring first will be key to breaking out of the slump as the Smokies are 15-0 when they get the first goal.
Tonight’s game also marks the return to the building where Louis Jonerheim scored his first BCHL goal.
The game, which starts at 6 p.m. Pacific Time, can be seen on FloHockey and heard on Mixlr.
The next home game at Cominco Arena is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Blackfalds Bulldogs and good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
