What a difference a day makes.
The Smokies came out more focused and energized resulting in a 5-3 Cominco Arena conquest of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
It started with Erik Pastro’s proficient deflection.
The tall centreman tipped a Christian Kim pass through his own legs and past Silverbacks goalie Mikkel Christenson just shy of the five minute mark.
But the Silverbacks replied quickly as newcomer Brady Craik found the top corner on Smokies goalie Lyam Leblanc.
Trail regained the lead a minute and a half later when Zach Coutu drilled a one-time shot from the right-wing circle on a Smokies power play with the home side carrying a one goal lead into the dressing room after a high paced twenty minutes.
The Smokies almost opened a two-goal lead at the midway point of the second period when the puck got behind Christenson, but he scrambled to sweep it across the goal line and out the far side.
Moments later, Wyatt Dreger cashed in on a crazily bouncing puck to tie the game for the Silverbacks, but the Smokies responded just 18 seconds later.
Brayden Sinclair ripped a wrister into the top of the net from close range to give Trail a lead they would not relinquish.
Both goalies were outstanding.
Leblanc stopped Silverbacks forward Maddox Martin on a shorthanded breakaway and raced across the net to rob another Silverback who had a wide open net for a split second, keeping the Smokies in the lead.
Christenson was just as stellar, including a breakaway save on Cash Carter seconds after the Smokies sniper stepped out of the penalty box.
Rookie Ryan Oothoudt’s deflection of a Matthias Pape shot about eight minutes into the final frame stood up as the winner, as the Silverbacks replied again on a high rising wrister from Luke Lepper during a 4-on-4 situation, making it a one-goal game with about nine minutes remaining.
The Smokies fended off the Silverbacks with solid defense until Christian Kim rifled a shot into the empty net with about 35 seconds remaining, as Christenson was on the bench for a sixth attacker.
Trail outshot Salmon Arm 34-32, went 1-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in a game played at a high pace and skill with great goaltending.
Pape finished the night with two assists in his first game back from the World Junior Hockey Championships. German teammate and fellow Smokies defenseman Max Hense also turned in a solid performance.
Pastro, Coutu and Kim all had a goal and an assist each.
The victory keeps the Smokies within four points of first place West Kelowna, with Trail holding a game in hand.
