The Smoke Eaters kick off the month of march with a visit from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, in what could be a preview to a first round playoff matchup.
Season Series versus Salmon Arm
Feb. 4 Trail 1 at Salmon Arm 2 Final
Feb. 11 Salmon Arm 8 at Trail 2 Final
Mar. 2 Salmon Arm at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 11 Trail at Salmon Arm 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 26 Trail at Salmon Arm 6:00 pm PDT
The Smoke Eaters will face off against the Silverbacks three more times before the regular season comes to a close with tonight’s game being the last visit for the Silverbacks to Cominco on the schedule. Despite losing the previous two games and one having a lopsided score the games have been extremely close between the Smoke Eaters and Silverbacks. While the Backs lead 4-1 after two periods the Smoke Eaters outshot Salmon Arm 22-11 in the second period and were unfortunate not to take a lead or be at least tied heading to the third. Now coming off a 6-3 win on Sunday to Wenatchee and the team finally getting healthy the Smoke Eaters will be able to put their best foot forward. Ridge Dawson and Ethan Willoughby are both nearing a return and could both be called upon by Coach Fragle for tonight’s game.
Smoke Eaters leading scorer:
Hunter (21-32-53)
Michaelis (23-19-42)
Lagerback (20-21-41)
Disher (11-23-34)
Cunningham (8-20-28)
The Silverbacks come to Trail looking to make up some ground as they continue to battle for first place in the Interior Conference with Penticton. Coming off back to back wins in Prince George on the weekend the Silverbacks flipped back to back loses to Prince George and Penticton into two wins the following week. Simon Tassy continues to lead the way for Salmon Arm with 70 points on the year, that mixed with the play of Owen Say, who was an honourable mention in the stars of the month for February, makes the Silverback a tough team to break down, losing only eight games in regulation this season. The Backs, like the Smoke Eaters are treating this as a playoff preview, with the likely hood of these teams seeing each other in April a likeli scenario.
Silverbacks leading scorers:
Tassy (37-33-70)
Serdachny (24-29-53)
Santa Juana (14-31-45)
Ladyman (4-32-36)
Panetta (17-18-35)
The Smoke Eaters look to build of their performance from Sunday as they begin a tough week that will see them follow up tonight’s game with matchups against West Kelowna and Penticton. Puck drop tonight against the Silverbacks is 7pm at the Trail Memorial Centre.
