The Smoke Eaters went the distance on Sunday evening, as three periods and overtime failed to separate them from the Bucks. But they would go 3/3 in the shootout to secure the extra point.
The Bucks would open the scoring on the night despite being outshot by the Smoke Eaters 16-11 in the first period. Noah Wakeford, and Zack Feaver had the best chances for the Smoke Eaters but Nathan Airey was up to the task. Cayden Hamming had his fair share of big saves in the first as well until he was beaten with under a minute to go in the period. The Bucks forced a turnover inside the Smoke Eaters zone that Nathan Fox took advantage of and fed Nick Sombrowski, who beat Hamming over the shoulder to make it 1-0 Cranbrook heading to the second period.
In the second the teams went back and forth. The Smoke Eaters first tied the game at 1 with Coalson Wolfords third goal of the year as he tipped the puck through Airey. Brady Hunter sent the puck to the back post that a falling Wolford was able to get enough on to get it past the Bucks netminder. The tie was short lived as Fox would get a fortunate bounce while being left unmarked in front of the net to beat Hamming just nine seconds after the Smoke Eaters tied the game. Cameron Kungle would score six minutes later on a rocket from the point that just eluded the glove of Hamming to make it 3-1 Cranbrook. However on the goal AJ Vasko would be called for a four minute “Butt Ending” penalty that would give the Smoke Eaters a Powerplay and a way back into the game. Wolford would score his second of the night as he would redirect a shot from Smoke Eaters captain Chase Dafoe at 15:28 of the second period. The Smoke Eaters would then draw level with 25 seconds remaining as Wolford out worked three Bucks players below their own goal line, worked his way up the right wall and sent a pass to the left point for Carson Golder, who’s shot made it through the crowd to tie the game at 3 and give Golder his first BCHL goal.
The third period and overtime would solve nothing on the scoreboard as Hamming and the penalty kill came up big for the Smoke Eaters late in the game. Dafoe had the best chance for Trail in the overtime that Airey got a shoulder on to stop, sending this game to a shootout. In the shootout the Smoke Eaters would go 3/3 as Dafoe would score blocker side, Kalen Szeto got a fortunate bounce as his shot hit the post, hit Airey in the back and went in. Then Wolford would score the eventual winner with a forehand backhand top shelf move to beat Airey. Cam Reid’s chance went wide of the net on Hamming who picks up his second BCHL win as the Smoke Eaters improve to 6-6.
The Smoke Eaters get right back to work to play the Vees Monday night. Puck drop is at 7pm
