Despite being shorthanded for 29 of the 65 minutes played on Friday night, and being down 3-0 after the first period the Smoke Eaters earned a valuable point in a shootout loss to the Wenatchee Wild.
The Smoke Eaters would go 10/11 on their penalty kill on Friday as the parade to the penalty box at times seemed constant. Trail found themselves down 3-0 in the first after Parker Murray scored in the opening minute and added another one with five minutes left in the first. Micah Berger would make it 3-0 after what was still a decently played first period from the Smoke Eaters but they got caught in a track meet in the first and the Wild were able to capitalize off the rush.
The Smoke Eaters were ushered to the penalty box another 4 times, one being a five minute major and one a double minor that killed 13 minutes of the second period, despite all that and the penalty kill staying perfect the Smoke Eaters would begin their comeback with a shorthanded goal from Brady Hunter, who does well to tip the puck around Mario Gasparini to give himself a shorthanded breakaway.
The Smoke Eaters then finally got a powerplay of their own and made Wenatchee pay for it as Hunter would pick up his second point of the night, passing across the top of the circle to Cobetto-Roy who gets a quick shot off past Andy Vlaha who was frozen to the spot.
The Smoke Eaters had a few more chances late in the second period but were unable to find an equalizer as the the Wild would hold out for a 3-2 lead going to the third period.
In the third, Wenatchee would finally on their 10th powerplay strike and retake a two goal lead as David Hejduk’s shot on a 5-on-3 found it’s way through the crowd and trickled in past Maddocks for a 4-2 Wenatchee Wild lead. The Smoke Eaters wouldn’t quit though, as they’d fight back to tie the game at four. Quinn Disher would pick up the Smoke Eaters third goal as Josh Schenk won the puck downlow and fed Disher who let a quick shot go from the bottom of the left circle.
The Smoke Eaters then had it come down to the wire in the third period as they were handed another powerplay opportunity late. With the net empty Brady Hunter played the hero as his shot from the left circle beat Vlaha clean, tying the game at four and sending the game to a shootout.
The Smoke Eaters would be outshot 7-1 in overtime, as the Smoke Eaters held after being assessed an 11th penalty of the night in overtime late. Wenatchee failed to score late and this game was headed to a shootout. Only one player would score in the shootout as Ean Somoza scored the shootout winner, giving Wenatchee their sixth straight win. The Smoke Eaters still have an opportunity to take three of four points on the road trip if they can win in regulation. Puck drop Saturday night in Wenatchee is at 6:05pm.
