It took 65 plus minutes of hockey and two goals from Zack Feaver but the Smoke Eaters got the job done on Sunday afternoon, beating the Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1.
The Smoke Eaters came out strong, outshooting the Spruce Kings 8-4 in the opening period, dominating the possession time and making life difficult for PG who were in their third game in three days. It wasn’t until the final thirty seconds however that the Smoke Eaters opened the scoring. Zack Feaver, the 18-year-old from Chilliwack, BC, forced a turnover in the Spruce Kings zone, got a return pass from Krill before beating Aaron Trotter.
The Smoke Eaters then struggled to find ways past the Prince George defence as the Spruce Kings sat back a bided their time before scoring the equalizing goal late in the second period on a goal by Rowan Miller. The third period saw much of the same with some back and forth but neither team willing to give an inch. Jumping ahead to overtime, the game opened up creating some wonderful chances for both teams. Firstly Mitchell Prowse had an opportunity to win the game early on as a lane to the net opened up, allowing him to drive to the net and force a save from Trotter. A few minutes later, the teams traded these chances.
Overtime would solve nothing however and the Smoke Eaters and Spruce Kings headed to a shootout. Chase Dafoe would start things off by scoring a beauty beating Trotter on the blocker side. Christian Buono would respond immediately making it 1-1. Then Zack Feaver put his second mark on the game.
Feaver scored the winner and Logan Terness made back to back saves to earn the win as the Smoke Eates picked up their 6th win of the preseason.
Three Stars:
1st – TRA Zack Feaver – 1G – 1 Shootout Goal
2nd – TRA Logan Terness 20/21 SV
3rd – PG Aaron Trotter 20/21 SV
Fortis Energy Player of the Game – TRA Cameron Moger
The Smoke Eaters are back in action on Wednesday as they welcome in the Merritt Centennials for the first time this season, looking to make it 4 wins in a row following tonight’s shootout victory.
