The Smoke Eaters ran up the shot clock, but Roan Clarke backstopped the Vipers to a 3-2 win in Wednesday night.
The Smoke Eaters had more than enough chances on Wednesday night, putting 51 shots on the Vernon net, but could only find two goals. The Smoke Eaters also hand ample powerplay time with a five minute major called early in the game, as Luke Pakulak was given five and a game for his hit on Smoke Eater captain Coalson Wolford. The Smoke Eaters would create chances but failed to capitalize on the man advantage. The Vipers would score shortly after as Reagan Millburn chopped the puck from the side of the Smoke Eater net, throught Fradette to the back post for Luke Buss to give the Vipers the lead. Connor Michaud provided the equalizer five minutes later, scoring on the powerplay, as he beat Clarke on a back door pass from Quinn Disher.
The Vipers would get out of the first period with a one goal lead as they would capitalize on a powerplay of their own, as Millburn stepped out of the right circle and got his shot past a screened Fradette to give the Vipers a 2-1 lead.
The Smoke Eaters would go on to outshoot the vipers 34-6 in the final two periods, including 21 shots in the second period, none of which found its way past Clarke. In the third period it was again a powerplay goal that extended the lead for the Vipers. Tallon Zakall’s point shot was redirected by the Vipers captain Jojo Tanaka-Campbell just five minutes into the third. The Smoke Eaters again had chances, but it wasn’t until there was 45 seconds left in the third that Brady Hunter scored his 17th of the year to get Trail within one.
That would be as close as the Smoke Eaters would get as the Vipers and Clarke would see the game out to win their seventh in a row, and hand the Smoke Eaters their second consecutive loss. The Smoke Eaters now hit the road for two games, with stops in Salmon Arm on Friday and Penticton on Saturday.
