PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 14th, 2018
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Trail Smoke Eaters tied the game in the 3rd period to force overtime but fell in a shootout to the Penticton Vees by a 2-1 score to begin their home-and-home series at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday night.
Carter Jones scored in the 3rd period to get the game even after Penticton opened the scoring in the middle period that forced the game into overtime and after six rounds of the shootout, Jackson Niedermayer got the eventual game winner as the Smoke Eaters collected a point in the standings but fell to begin their home-and-home set against the Vees.
The Smoke Eaters and Vees each had a power play in the opening 20 minutes of action that went unsuccessful and resulted in a scoreless opening frame. Adam Marcoux, playing in his 100th career BCHL regular season contest, made 8 saves in the first 20 minutes of action while Jack LaFontaine turned aside each of the 9 shots he faced in the 1st period.
The offence continued to be hard to come by in the 2nd period but it was the Vees who started to bring pressure and outshot the Smoke Eaters by a 13-6 margin in the middle stanza and broke the scoreless deadlock at the 11:22 mark of the period on a 5-on-3 power play.
Ryan Sandelin dragged the puck along the goal line on the blocker side of Marcoux and cut to the net with the Smoke Eaters netminder making a left pad save before the puck continued to dribble to the goal line before being pulled away by Trevor Zins. Trail was not able to get the puck covered and Sandelin knocked it in from his knees on a scramble at the top of the crease to give the Vees a 1-0 lead into the final regulation period of play.
The Smoke Eaters had a power play to begin the period that did not convert but moments later, Carter Jones tied the game at the 2:17 mark of the final regulation period. Jones moved in on the right side and snapped a shot that beat LaFontaine through the glove side arm for his 11th goal of the season and knotted the game at 1-1.
The 3rd period remained scoreless as the game shifted to overtime, with Penticton getting a big opportunity to take the lead late after a penalty call against Max Kryski in the final minute. Trail killed it off to force the extra period and got a power play of their own in overtime but failed to convert as the game moved to a shootout.
Ryan Sandelin scored in the fourth round of the skills competition with a shot through the legs of Marcoux before Owen Ozar kept the game alive with a move to the backhand over the blocker of LaFontaine. The sixth round saw Jackson Niedermayer beat Marcoux over the blocker with Tyler Ghirardosi being stopped by LaFontaine and the Vees coming away with the shootout victory.
Adam Marcoux turned aside 28 of the 29 shots he faced on the night in his 18th loss of the season while Jack LaFontaine made 21 saves on 22 shots thrown his way for his 16th win of the season.
FINAL SCORE: 2-1 Vees (SO)
SHOTS ON GOAL: 29-22 Vees
SMOKE EATERS PP: 0/4
SMOKE EATERS PK: 4/5
3 STARS:
1) Jackson Niedermayer (0-0-0)
2) Ryan Sandelin (1-0-1)
3) Jack LaFontaine (21 saves on 22 shots)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Ryan Stack (0-0-0)
ATTENDANCE: 2,902
The Smoke Eaters (12-17-5-3) return home to host the Penticton Vees (21-10-1-2) on Teddy Bear and Toque Toss Night at the Trail Memorial Centre on Saturday night. Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals bagged in plastic and throw them on the ice after the Smoke Eaters opening goal of the game. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with tickets available at the Smoke Eaters Main Office as well as at the door ahead of the opening face-off.
