Smoke Eaters can’t find a second as the Silverbacks score with eight minutes left in the third to edge out the Smoke Eaters 2-1 on Friday night at the Shaw Centre.
Shorthanded in terms of player personnel as Wolford was a late scratch on top of the other injuries and suspensions the Smoke Eaters have they gutted out one heck of a performance despite the 2-1 loss. The Smoke Eaters got the scoring going and it was Ridge Dawson stepping up to get his sixth goal of the year. Dawson who was a battering ram all night long, got on the end of an alley-oop pass from Cam Moger and beat Owen Say over the shoulder on the blocker side.
The Silverbacks would answer eight minutes later on a fortunate bounce as Mat Bourgault’s shot from the left wall was stopped by Fradette, with the rebound hitting Warrener in front and deflecting back into the Smoke Eaters net.
The two sides would stay tied into the third period despite Josh Schenk hitting the post shorthanded and Bourgault doing the same at the other end of the ice seconds later.
In the third Fradette was forced to make two highlight reel saves to keep the game tied as Salmon Arm put on the push looking for a winner. Fradette made another back door glove save as Brandon Santa-Juana was robbed by the Smoke Eater netminder.
Fradette would make another save minutes later to keep the game within one after Aidan Linblad scored what would be the eventual game winner. Fradette coming to his right would stack the pads and rob Serdachny with the shot going off of Fradette’s skate, causing him to need some attention from the Smoke Eaters trainer.
The Smoke Eaters pushed late but couldn’t find the equalizer as the Silverbacks held on for a 2-1 win. A matchup that left everyone wanting more on a tightly contested game that had a obvious playoff feel to it.
The Smoke Eaters head home to face the Merritt Centennials on Saturday night back at the Trail Memorial Centre. Puck drop against the Cents is at 7pm.
