The effort was there, the compete was there, and despite losing a forward and having to kill a 7 minute penalty, the Smoke Eaters comeback from 3-1 down to earn a much needed point in a 4-3 OT loss to the Spruce Kings.
The first period showed little in terms of an advantage on either side, as despite the late goal in the first period by the Spruce Kings the Smoke Eaters and Kings both weren’t able to take control of the game and have extended shifts on the others zone. Keegan Maddocks who got the call tonight played probably one of his best games as a Smoke Eater. He came up with a highlight reel save in the first to stop John Herrington at the back post halfway through the first. But the Spruce Kings would open the scoring with 55 seconds remaining in the period as Owen Goodbrand would tip a point shot past Maddocks giving the homeside the lead.
Jumping ahead to the second the Smoke Eaters would allow two but answer again quickly after the Spruce Kings took a 2-0 lead on a Ty Gagno goal. Brady Hunter would score his first goal of the weekend, as with the help of Josh Schenk, the Smoke Eaters forced a neutral zone turnover, which Hunter took, skated across the blueline and let go a shot the beat Aidan Feddema over the shoulder.
The Spruce Kings would restore their two goal lead later on a shorthanded goal for Jack Stockfish, giving the home side a 3-1 lead going to the third. On top of the deficit the Smoke Eaters would lose Adam Marshall for the rest of the night as he was assessed a instigator and fighting penalty as he dropped the gloves in an effort to stand up for Hunter, who took an awkward collision in the neutral zone, that luckily didn’t result in an injury. But the Smoke Eaters found themselves down by two and having to kill off a 7 minute penalty.
The Smoke Eaters did just that in the third and scored a shorthanded goal of their own as Hunter was awarded a rare penalty shot, which he would capitalize on, making it a one goal game.
After the Smoke Eaters killed off the penalty they got a powerplay of their own, their fifth of the night, and this time they would convert as Evan Bushy’s point shot cut clean through the crowd and beat the Spruce Kings Netminder, tying this game at three and bringing the Smoke Eaters back from the brink of collapse to an eventual point as this game would go to overtime.
With a point gained the Smoke Eaters and Spruce Kings headed to overtime, where it took just 14 seconds for the Spruce Kings to snatch the extra point and the complete comeback from the Smoke Eaters grasp as Killian Mcgregor-Bennett beat Maddocks on the pas from Herrington.
The Smoke Eaters however should be proud of their performance, as they have 3 out of four points on the weekend so far heading into Sunday’s game, as they wrap up the series at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
