It’s a three game mini series that will likely decide the Smoke Eaters playoff fate as they head down to Wenatchee for games tonight, Friday night and Saturday.
Season Series versus Wenatchee
Oct. 16 Wenatchee 5 at Trail 6 Final OT
Oct. 30 Wenatchee 1 at Trail 4 Final
Feb. 27 Wenatchee 3 at Trail 6 FINAL
Mar. 9 Trail 2 at Wenatchee 1 FINAL
Mar. 17 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
Mar. 18 Trail at Wenatchee 7:05 pm PDT
Mar. 19 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
Mar. 25 Wenatchee at Trail 7:05 pm PDT
Oct. 30 Wenatchee 1 at Trail 4 Final
Feb. 27 Wenatchee 3 at Trail 6 FINAL
Mar. 9 Trail 2 at Wenatchee 1 FINAL
Mar. 17 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
Mar. 18 Trail at Wenatchee 7:05 pm PDT
Mar. 19 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
Mar. 25 Wenatchee at Trail 7:05 pm PDT
The Smoke Eaters head south after splitting games this past weekend. Losing a close game 2-1 in Salmon Arm before persevering in a shootout over the Merritt Centennials on Saturday back on home ice. The Smoke Eaters will get Connor Michaud back tonight from a three game suspension which is bound to give an overall boost, whether it’s 5-on-5 the penalty kill or the powerplay. Coming off his first BCHL win on Saturday Ethan Shebansky is likely to lead the Smoke Eaters into these crucial three game set, with Owen Albers joining him for the ride with Evan Fradette out for the rest of the regular season at least. The Smoke Eaters sit one point behind the Wild for 7th in the Interior, a win tonight can flip that around and put the Smoke Eaters in position to stay on top of the Wild going into the final week. Both the Smoke Eaters and Wild will be treating this as playoff hockey.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Hunter (21-35-56)
Michaelis (26-21-47)
Lagerback (23-22-45)
Disher (12-23-35)
Wolford (10-20-30)
Michaelis (26-21-47)
Lagerback (23-22-45)
Disher (12-23-35)
Wolford (10-20-30)
The Wild got a huge win in their quest to finish 7th in the interior as they also bounced back from a Friday night loss to win in a shootout over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6-5. The Wild now begin a four game homestand with three of those games against the Smoke Eaters. The Wild failed to overturn two early Smoke Eater goals last week, despite hitting the post in the final seconds. The Wild are yet to beat the Smoke Eaters this season, something they would love nothing more than to change this week with how important these games are.
Wild leading scorers:
Somoza (13-34-47)
Littler (18-22-40)
Emerson (11-22-33)
Littler (18-22-40)
Emerson (11-22-33)
Bohn (14-15-29)
Szydlowski (11-14-25)
Szydlowski (11-14-25)
It’s the first of three games from the Town Toyota Centre as the Smoke Eaters look to jump the Wild and take control of the 7th seed in the Interior Conference. Puck drop is at 6pm tonight from Wenatchee. Watch the game on BCHLTV or listen free on Mixlr.com with Smoke Eaters broadcaster Ben Phillips.
