The Smoke Eaters head back to Cranbrook as they close out 2021 with a New Years Eve clash against the Bucks, looking to break their three game slide.
Season series vs Cranbrook (Season series tied 3-3)
Oct. 8 Trail 3 at Cranbrook 5 Final
Oct. 9 Cranbrook 1 at Trail 3 Final
Nov. 20 Trail 4 at Cranbrook 3 Final OT
Dec. 1 Trail 7 at Cranbrook 4 Final
Dec. 17 Cranbrook 5 at Trail 3 Final
Dec. 18 Trail 3 at Cranbrook 4 Final
Dec. 31 Trail at Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST
Jan. 1 Cranbrook at Trail 5:00 pm PST
Feb. 9 Trail at Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST
The Smoke Eaters return from their Christmas break looking to bounce back from back to back losses against the Cranbrook Bucks. It was a 5-3 loss on home ice and a 4-3 loss in Cranbrook that now sees the Smoke Eaters on a three game losing streak for the first time this season. As the Calendar flips and we head into January the schedule gets no easier for the Smokies who will play 11 games, with two of the four weeks seeing them play three games in four nights. It’s now crunch time for the Smoke Eaters who can make up a lot of ground this month with some big opponents on the schedule. Tim Fragle this week has put an emphasis on team defence, one of the contributing factors that was lacking in the Smoke Eaters most recent defeats. The other challenge will be trying to control the moment swings as Cranbrook continues to be a quick strike team, whether that’s after the Smoke Eaters score or early in periods. Both those scenarios unfolded in the last two games. Something the Smoke Eaters will be looking to eradicate from their game as they look to get back in the win column.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Michaelis (18-12-30)
Hunter (10-20-30)
Lagerback (13-11-24)
Cunningham (6-16-22)
Disher (6-14-20)
The Bucks are in the midst of a three game win streak as they come out of the holiday break. With a win against Prince George prior to their double over the Smoke Eaters, the Bucks have climber the interior conference standings and now sit fifth, just above Trail and slightly behind Prince George. The key for the Bucks continues to be the way that Tyson Dyck and Noah Quinn seem to step up their game whenever the Smoke Eaters are the opponent. Dyck has six goals and six assists in the six games while Quinn has four goals and five assists. The two leading scorers for Cranbrook had scored 10 of the 22 goals the Bucks have scored against the Smoke Eaters this season. Cranbrook will look to close out 2021 with a franchise best four game winning streak should they be able to pull of the win on home ice tonight.
Bucks leading scorers:
Dyck (17-17-34)
Quinn (9-12-21)
Hjartarson (9-9-18)
Pfoh (5-12-17)
Johnson (10-6-16)
It’s a New Years Eve bash as the Smoke Eaters head to the East Kootenay’s to close out 2021. Puck drop is at 6PM Pacific time. Catch all the action with Smoke Eater broadcaster Ben Phillips on BCHLTV or listen on Mixlr starting ten minutes prior to puck drop.
