The Smoke Eaters came out strong and for forty minutes on Saturday night it was a back and forth game, but they failed to create chances in the third as the Vees score three unanswered for a 6-3 win.
The Smoke Eaters got the game off and rolling and started well on Saturday. Despite failing to capitalize on a powerplay to open the game, as the Vees were handed a warm up violation, the Smoke Eaters still opened the scoring as scenarios like that can often work against the team that gets the powerplay. The Smoke Eaters opening goal was on the powerplay, their second of the night, at 8:48 into the first period as on a 4-on-3 advantage the Smoke Eaters took advantage as Zach Michaelis and Brad Hunter combined with Evan Bushy for the 1-0 goal.
With the teams back to 4-on-4 for another twenty seconds the Smoke Eaters would strike just 25 seconds after taking lead as Michaelis used his speed to get past the Vees defenceman and break to the net. His initial shot was stopped but the rebound was found by Hunter who scored his 9th goal of the season!
The Vees would push for an answer but the Smoke Eaters held firm in the second getting some big saves by Fradette to keep the home side up 2-0.
The Vees responded in the second period as expected as they score just 10 seconds into the period to get on the board as Casey McDonald beat Fradette with a tip shot over the glove side shoulder. The Vees then leveled the game off at two with a goal three minutes later as a point shot from Ryan Hopkins made it through the crowd again to make it 2-2. The Smoke Eaters would then respond two minutes later as Hunter chased down a dump in from Teddy Lagerback, passed off to Michaelis who picked the corner on Kaden Lane to restore the Smoke Eater lead.
Seconds later the Smoke Eaters thought they had another two goal lead on their hands but the goal from Charlie Strobel was waved off due to what the officials determined goaltender interference as Valk and a Vees defender collided with Lane as the puck goes in. The Smoke Eaters didn’t win that argument for the goal to stand as it was immediately waved off. The Vees would then answer as Beanie Richter put home a rebound off the pad of Fradette to tie the game at 3-3.
In the third the Smoke Eaters weren’t able to get much going as the Vees scored early in the period, getting what would be the eventual game winner from Spencer Smith 2 minutes into the third. The Vees then held the Smoke Eaters to just three shots in the final frame and would score two more late to take both points in regulation. The Smoke Eaters, who put together a very good 40 minutes of hockey but will know that they can’t take any breaks if they want to beat a team like Penticton Who credit to them, shut the door in the third. ThE Smoke Eaters have one more game on their three game home stand next Friday night as the Cranbrook Bucks come to town.
