A three minute spell spelt disaster for the Smoke Eaters who couldn’t erase a 4-0 deficit against the Bucks on Saturday night.
It was actually a very good start for the Smoke Eaters who through the opening ten minutes of hockey had the majority of the play. The Bucks first two goals really came against the run of play. But once they got the first one they looked like a different team for the next six, scoring three more times in quick succession to take a 4-0 lead into the second period. The Smoke Eaters on the fourth goal needed to change something as Fradette was substituted for Cole Tisdale he made his Smoke Eater debut.
Whether it was a stern talking to or a calming influence, whatever was said between periods worked as the Smoke Eaters worked their way back into the game. Quinn Disher got the scoring going as he rushed in on the right side, took a shot that deflected off the Bucks defender and clean past Airey to get the Smoke Eaters on the board just two minutes into the second.
The Smoke Eaters would strike again less than a minute later as Christian Lowe forced a turnover on the end wall , found Josh Schenk who was alone at the side of the net and took the puck, out waited Airey to pick up his first BCHL goal.
The Smoke Eaters weren’t done there. Despite various chances it took a powerplay before the Smoke Eaters struck again. It took them just twenty seconds on the man advantage as Brady Hunter beat Airey clean through the crowd to make it a one goal game.
The Smoke Eaters then had multiple chances to tie the game, a fourth line shift of Schenk, Parsons and Lowe paired with Willoughby and Dunn on the back end had the Bucks trapped for over a minute but just couldn’t find the equalizer they felt they deserved. The Bucks on their next opportunity down ice would strike as Tyson Dyck make it 5-3 late in the second.
In the third the Smoke Eaters had a few chances but the Bucks collapsed and did well to hold the Smoke Eaters to the outside. That mixed with the assessment of a five minute major and the loss of Corey Cunningham just added to the task at hand. Unfortunately the Smoke Eaters were unable to find the net as the Bucks saw out a 5-3 win over the Smoke Eaters. The Smokies are back on the road on Wednesday night as they head to Vernon to take on the Vipers.
