Powell River came to Trail looking for a response after a lopsided score line the night before in Cranbrook, and they got just that picking up a gutsy 2-1 win on the road over the Smoke Eaters.
The Smoke Eaters came charging out of the gate, looking to take an early lead as they out shot the Kings 6-1 in the opening ten minutes. However Kyle Metson in the Kings net stood firm and weathered the early storm as the Kings would push back with a few chances of their own, finishing out the first period outshooting the Smoke Eaters 10-8, as Teagan Kendrick stopped all 10 shots he faced.
The best chances in the second period came from the Smoke Eaters who were awarded a double minor powerplay. The Smoke Eaters held the puck in the Kings end for most of the entire four minutes with multiple chances from Cobetto-Roy, Disher, Hunter and Remissong who all had chances around the net but were unable to get the games first goal. Kendrick again had to come up big, stopping two odd-man rushes in the middle frame as we headed to the third period scoreless.
In the third the Smoke Eaters finally got their breakthrough off the stick of Adam Marshall, who scored his second in as many games, with this one actually counting as a powerplay goal to get the Smoke Eaters on the board.
The Kings however would respond with two goals off the rush, both changing directions as Colin MacDougall scored the equalizer prior to the halfway mark of the third, followed four minutes later by Brandon Toye who would score the eventual game winner. The Smoke Eaters would push late but couldn’t find a way through Metson as the Kings would hold on for a 2-1 win against the Smoke Eaters.
The Smoke Eaters will switch their focus and get set for two tough games next weekend with a visit from the Merritt Centennials on Friday, with the Smoke Eaters then hitting the road on Saturday to Penticton.
