Shorthanded, the Smoke Eaters got a full team performance on Saturday night as they hold to Vees to just one goal in regulation, falling 2-1 in a shootout.
The Smoke Eaters weren’t great to start the game, especially when you compare the first period to how they were able to play in the next two periods. But the Smoke Eaters found themselves outshot 13-2 in the first period and for much of the first in their own end as the Vees pressed early. Penticton would open the scoring just four minutes in on the lone error the Smoke Eaters would make, as the Vees force a turnover in front of the Trail net, with the puck finding Thomas Pichette all alone who buried his opportunity and gave the Vees a 1-0 lead.
The end of the first and the second period was much better from the Smoke Eaters who went toe to toe with the Vees in terms of chances in the second period. But the Smoke Eaters would be the only team to score as Brady Hunter picked off the shoot around from Vees goaltender Luca Di Pasquo, to then find Adam Parsons at the top of the slot who scored his seventh of the year to tie the game.
In the third the Smoke Eaters had the better of the chances to not just take a lead, but as time passed, to win the game but Di Pasquo stood firm in the third. That meant this game would need overtime and further more a shootout. The Smoke Eaters will kicking themselves however for not winning this game after a breakaway in the third and multiple opportunities in overtime including a post in the final minute. Regardless a shootout would be needed and of all six shooters the Vees would score the lone goal needed to decide the game as Josh Nadeau beat Kendrick who stopped his other two shooters while Di Pasquo stopped Cobetto-Roy, Parsons and Hunter to earn the Vees their 18 consecutive victory to open the season and keep them undefeated.
The Smoke Eaters, after playing such a strong game, will have to quickly pick themselves up and get set for the Silverbacks who come to Trail for a Sunday Matinee at 3pm.
