The BCHL’s Kootenay clash is heading to Cranbrook tied at a game each.
The Smoke Eaters scored three of their five unanswered goals in the third period to beat the Bucks 5-1, splitting the first two games of this first round playoff series.
But it was the visitors who jumped into the early lead.
Trail goalie Teagan Kendrick had trouble controlling the rebound on a sharp angle shot and the puck ended up on the stick of sniper Rasmus Svartstrom in front of a wide open net and the Finn who won the BCHL goal scoring title, tallied his second goal of the series.
The Smokies responded five-and-a-half minutes later, catching Cranbrook on a bad line change, breaking in 2-on-0, as Gryphon Bucci set up Brayden Sinclair for his first playoff goal.
Kendrick made his best and most important save of the night moments later.
A turnover at the Bucks blue line sent Patrick Murphy on a clear cut breakaway and the 20-year-old Trail netminder out-guessed the speedy forward who tried a backhand-to-forehand move as Murphy forward ran out of space and options.
A confident Kendrick was unbeatable the rest of the game making 26 saves including 14 in the final frame.
The Smokies dominated the second period and it looked as if they would not be rewarded on the scoresheet.
A deflection got in behind Cranbrook goalie Jaden Cholette, hit the inside of the post and stayed out. A few minutes later, Christian Kim wired a shot off the far post from the right-wing circle.
The relentless Trail attack finally paid off 16-minutes into the second period when Cade De St. Hubert won the face off and defenseman Jack Kennedy ripped a rising wrister from the point through traffic and into the top of the net to give the Smokies a 2-1 edge after 40 minutes.
Cranbrook’s best chance to tie the game was a net-front pass that deflected off Sam Ranallo, behind Kendrick and through the crease.
Trail picked up the pace after that with Judah Makway ringing a high shot off the iron, before the turning point came on a tic-tac-toe play started by Judah.
Ridge Dawson relayed Makway’s pass across the front of the net and Evan Sundar blasted home the insurance goal just before the 12-minute mark.
Zach Coutu put the game away five minutes later converting a centring pass from Lucas Lemieux, while a hustling Sinclair set up Dylan Lariviere’s empty net goal in the final minute to put an exclamation point on the night for the Cominco Arena crowd of 1,803, who were hyped by huge hits from Isaac Fecteau in first period and Ridge Dawson in the third. Dawson’s aggressiveness was constant throughout the game.
Trail outshot the Bucks 33-27 and both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.
Games three and four are set for Cranbrook on Tuesday and Wednesday, with game five at Cominco Arena this Friday. Great seats are still available. You can reserve yours up at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
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