The night started well for the Smoke Eaters but missed chances and key saves allowed the Warriors to find a way back, force overtime and win 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night in West Kelowna.
The Smoke Eaters weathered an early storm from the Warriors, who tested Kendrick 19 times in the first period, but the young netminder held firm with a handful of big saves in the first period, as he was well on his way to what would be a 48 save night. That lead to the Smoke Eaters scoring twice off the rush in the first, as Nick Remissong would beat Angelo Zol at the pack post after the shot from Adam Parsons created a rebound off of Zol for Remissong to bury his 13th of the year.
The Smoke Eaters would double their lead as Adam Marshall finished a second chance opportunity off the rush after shots from Hendry and Cobetto-Roy were blocked, as the Marshall beat Zol on the glove side to give the Smoke Eaters a 2-0 lead after the first.
The Smoke Eaters would further increase their lead on the powerplay as Cobetto-Roy got the one-timer off from the top of the right circle just over 7 minutes into the second frame.
The Smoke Eaters were a matter of inches away from making it 4-0 minutes later in what could be described as the “TSN turning point” of tonight’s game. On a 2-on-1 with Dawson and AP Nathan Dominici making his BCHL debut, the Smoke Eaters and Dominici had one saved off the goal line by Zol, the Warriors would then come the other way and Riley Sharun would crack through, finally beating Teagan Kendrick to get West Kelowna on the board.
With a 3-1 lead heading to the third the Smoke Eaters and Warriors both played a more conservative third period compared to the opening two. Despite that the Warriors would score on arguably their best two chances. Tying the game at three with just over five minutes remaining in the third.
The Smoke Eaters would control overtime but Zol and the Warriors held off attack after attack from the likes of Hunter, Mann, Cobetto-Roy and Hendry who all had great chances. We’d then need seven rounds of the shootout, largely due to some incredible goaltending by both Kendrick and Zol who came up with incredible saves to keep their teams alive. But it was finally Isiah Norlin for the Warriors who would score to secure the extra point for the Warriors.
The Smoke Eaters now head to Langley as they wrap up their two game road trip against the Rivermen on Saturday night.
