The Smoke Eaters begin a five game homestand against the toughest opponent the BCHL currently has to offer as the still undefeated Penticton Vees make their first visit to Cominco.
Season Series against Penticton
Sep. 23 Trail 1 at Penticton 7 Final
Oct. 29 Trail 3 at Penticton 9 Final
Nov. 12 Penticton at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Jan. 13 Penticton at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 4 Penticton at Trail 7:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters are coming off a grueling island trip that saw them only take two of a possible six points, winning their lone game in Cowichan convincingly 8-4. However a slow start the following afternoon in Victoria saw them lose 7-2 despite a second period surge that had Dawson and Parson’s find the score sheet moments apart. The Smoke Eaters, who were shorthanded last week, will continue to battle with a limited lineup as they head into this weekend’s set of games likely having to stick with 11 forwards and 7 defenceman, at lease for tonight. The last time the Smoke Eaters played the Vees on home ice they held them to back to back 2-1 decisions in the first round of the playoffs last April, they’ll be looking to play another tight game like that tonight.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Remissong (8-6-14)
Fechko (5-9-14)
Parsons (6-7-13)
Cobetto-Roy (4-8-12)
Disher (4-8-12)
The Vees took care of business on home ice on Friday night, winning 6-2 over the Vernon Vipers. The Vipers were tied 1-1 with Penticton after the first period, but even without Aydar Suniev in the lineup for the Vees as he will continue to serve the second of his two game suspension, the Vees found ways to score and would build on their lead through the second and third periods, as has become a constant theme for them. Still undefeated on the year the Vees come to Trail for the first of three times this season looking to continue on their season opening win streak. The Nadeau brothers are well ahead of the rest of the league in the scoring race with 36 and 34 points respectively. The Vees boast the league’s best powerplay and the second best penalty kill, however on the road this year the Vees PK is only at 76% where the Smoke Eaters powerplay on home ice has a 24% average.
Vees leading scorers:
Nadeau (17-19-36)
Nadeau (9-25-34)
Suniev (12-12-24)
Moravec (8-11-19)
Hopkins (6-11-17)
Puck drop between the Smoke Eaters and the Vees is set for 7:00PM tonight at Cominco Arena. Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time and skip the lines at tickets.trailsmokeeaters.com. If you can’t make it to the arena, catch all the action with Smoke Eaters broadcaster Ben Phillips and colour commentator Rob Squires on HockeyTV and on Mixlr!
