The Smoke Eaters have often been accused of not being prepared for the start of the game but in Wenatchee on Friday night they turned the tables on the host team and came out flying. By 2:49 of the first period the Smokies had a commanding 3-0 lead over the Wild. The Smokies first goal came at 1:03 of the first when Connor Brown Maloski backhanded a shot by Wild goaltender Chase Perry. Nick Halloran assisted on the goal. Just 31 seconds later Ryan Swanson blasted a shot past Perry from the blueline assisted on by Connor Brown Maloski and Ross Armour. The goal came at 1:34 of the first and chased Perry from the net. He was replaced by Garrett Nieto who finished the game for the Wild. The Smokies 3rd goal came at 2:49 of the first period when Kale Howarth scored on a feed from Spencer McLean. Had it not been for a couple of great saves by Nieto the score could easily have been 5-0 for the Smokies.
In the second period the Smoke Eaters scored the only goal of the period at 11:46 when Max Newton fed Kienan Scott a perfect break-a-way pass from just inside the Trail blueline. Scott make no mistake as he put the puck through Nieto. It was Scott’s 5th goal in four games.
The Wild turned the heat up in the third period and scored goals at 8:16 and 15:45 by Dakota Raabe and Logan Miliken respectively. Bailey MacBurnie of the Smokies made several good saves in the period to preserve the win for the Smokies.
First star of the game went to Connor Brown Maloski of the Smokies, second star went to Bailey MacBurnie and third star went to Dakota Raabe of the Wild. MacBurnie made 30 saves on the night facing 32 shots while Nieto of the wild made 23 saves on 25 shots.
Overall it was a solid effort by the Smoke Eaters and probably one of the best road games they have played this season.
The Smokies could not carrry that effort over in Penticton on Saturday as they dropped an 8-1 decision to the Vees. Penticton scored just 1:04 into the third period and never looked back. They scored their second goal on a power play at 14:22 of the period and led 2-0 after one. They outscored Trail 4-1 in the second period and 2-0 in the third for the 8-1 win. Trail’s lone goal came in the second period on a power play when Evan McEachern scored on a setup from Kyle Star and Harlan Orr. Penticton outshot Trail on the night 38-28. Bailey MacBurnie was pulled in the second period after Penticton’s 5th goal. He faced 20 shots with 15 saves. Linden Marshall faced 18 shots with 15 saves. It was a disappointing night for MacBurnie after his solid effort in Wenatchee the night before. Scott Conway of the Vees with 2 goals and 2 assists was named first star of the game. Demico Hannoun with 2 goals for the Vees was named second star while Vees Sam Jones was named third star.
The Smokies travel to West Kelowna on Tuesday and are back home for two games on the weekend. Friday, December 4 they face Alberni and on Saturday, December 5 have a return match against Wenatchee.
