It was a battle to the end.
Salmon Arm goalie Daniel Dirrocolo made a brilliant buzzer-beating save in the third period to preserve a 2-1 win over the Smokies, who came home from the two-game Shuswap doubleheader with a split.
The final stop game came while the Smokies were swarming on the power play with six attackers.
Unlike Friday, it was Salmon Arm that opened a two-goal lead after twenty minutes.
Liam Bursaw got both goals.
The Silverbacks forward took advantage of a crazy bounce to open the scoring just past the 12-minute mark.
A shot by Mateu Spath deflected over top of the Trail net and ricocheted off the glass, back into the crease with Brusaw jamming the prone puck over the goal line during the mad scramble that ensued.
Two minutes later Trail’s Louis Jonerheim was the only player penalized for roughing at the end of a consensual wrestling match that resulted from a scrum along the boards and the Silverbacks cashed in.
Bursaw’s shot from the right wing circle got past a partially screened Chayse Johnson with about four minutes left in the opening frame.
The Smokies had a strong second period against the defensively sound Silverbacks, but could not get on the scoreboard.
After Cooper Struckel struck iron, an apparent goal by Dylan Lariviere was waved off immediately.
The referees could not find conclusive evidence to overturn the original ruling that the puck was knocked in with a high stick.
After the game, Smokies defenseman Max Hense said the rebound of his shot was below the net’s crossbar.
Trail reduced the deficit to a single goal with about 11 minutes remaining in the third period.
Christian Kim ripped a short-side wrister into the top corner, completing a three-on-two rush with Cade De St. Hubert and Cash Carter.
The goal extends the 20-year-old Californian’s point streak to five games and gives that line a total of 21 points in the last five contests, but the tying goal eluded the Trail troupe.
Chayse Johnson turned in a strong 31 save performance for the Smokies, while 26 shots were directed at Dirracolo.
Trail went 0-for-3 on the power play and killed off 4-of-5 Salmon Arm advantages.
The split over the weekend leaves the Smokies with a record of 14-4, including a road record of 11-2.
They trail division leading West Kelowna by two points.
After playing 14 of the fist 18 games of the season away from home, the Smokies will now go on a run of five in a row and seven of the final eight games before Christmas at Cominco Arena.
It starts at 7 p.m. Friday, November 21 against the defending BCHL Champion Brooks Bandits. Tickets are available in the Smokies Store or online at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
After the game, all fans are invited to Tailout Brewery for the first live post-game chat hosted by play-by-play announcer Drew Wilson and colour commentator Glen Sanders with Head Coach and General Manager Eric Thurston. Fans will also get a chance to ask questions.
