For a second straight night, a closely contested, fast-paced, hard-fought, prototypical playoff game came down to a single shot.
Keifer Miller scored on a rebound at 3:58 of overtime to give Salmon Arm a 3-2 win over the Smokies and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven BCHL opening round playoff series. It was Miller’s second goal of the night.
Trail battled back from a 2-0 deficit early in the second period with Gabe Bugeaud converting a precision 2-on-1 pass from Otto Hanson with a nifty backhander less than a minute after the Silverbacks made it 2-0.
Christian Kim tied it about 10 minutes later with a sizzling snap shot into the top corner after a perfect pass from Cash Carter on another fast odd-man rush.
From there you got the feeling even with about 29-minutes of regulation time remaining, the next goal would decide the game.
Smokies goalie Cooper Michaluk was sensational for a second straight night.
He made two highlight-reel glove saves to keep the game tied, the second with about three minutes left in the third period.
Michaluk was also knocked down several times during goalmouth scrambles for a second straight night.
It was a fiesty affair with numerous off-setting roughing penalties, but each team had only one power play and neither resulted in goals.
The Silverbacks outshot Trail 35-21.
Both games were outstanding to watch, with great intensity, speed and physicality, but unfortunately for the Trail fans who went home entertained, they were two shots away from elation.
Games three and four are Tuesday and Wednesday in Salmon Arm.
