AFTER FIVE PENALTY KILLS HOWARTH SCORES ON SMOKIE “PP” TO ENERGIZE TEAM
The Trail Smoke Eaters sent 1890 fans home happy last night after defeating the Vernon Vipers 3-1 at the Cominco Arena. The Vipers were given every opportunity to put the game out of hand early as the Smokies were assessed five straight penalties but, the Vipers were unable to capitalize on their power play opportunities. By the midway mark of the second period the Vipers had six power play opportunities to Trail’s one on which the home team capitalized to energize the team and the crowd and spur them on to a 3-1 win.
There was no scoring in the first period which saw the Smkies kill 3 power play chances.
In the second period Kale Howarth potted his 30th goal of the season when Trail was finally given a power play opportunity of their own. Luke Santerno and Carter Cochrane assisted on the goal at 8:55 of the period. On their second power play chance the Smokies made it 2-0 when Troy Ring scored his 7th of the year with Spencer McLean and Blaine Caton earning the assists. At 18:31 Josh Lamframboise scored his 25th of the season on a wicked wrist shot to the top corner past Viper’s goaltender, Ty Taylor. Kale Howarth and Captain, Connor Brown Maloski assisted on the marker,
Jimmy Lambert of the Vipers got his team on the board at 8:55 of the third with his 19th of the year. That was all the Vipers were able to manage on the night and Trail skated off with the 3-1 win.
MARSHALL ONE OF 39 SAVES ON THE NIGHT
Smokie’s took all three stars in the game with Kale Howarth earning first star, Linden Marshall second star and Josh Laframboise third star. Lamframboise had a goal and an assist on the night, Marshall faced 40 shots making 39 saves and Howarth had one goal. Korbyn Chabot was named Fortis Energy Player of the Game with his usual strong, gritty performance and doing what he does best, getting under the skin of the opposing players, managing to put a few of the Vipers off their game and leading to the ejection of Viper’s Connor Clouston.
GRITTY PERFORMANCE BY CHABOT
The Smokies were outshot in the game 40-24 with many of those shots attributable to the 8 power play advantages given to the Vipers.
LAMFRAMBOISE SEALS THE DEAL WITH 25TH OF SEASON
Trail travels to Vernon on Saturday night for their last game of the season. The Smokies are currently in third place with 58 points. West Kelowna is in fourth spot with 56 points. A Trail win or West Kelowna loss will give Trail third place. If both teams lose, the Smokies would get third place. If the Smokies come in third they would play Salmon Arm in the first round. If they come in fourth they would play Merritt.
Regardless of who they play the first playoff game will be next Friday, March 3. Game time is 7:30 pm at the Cominco Arena. The second game goes on Saturday night, March 4 with the start time at 7:00 pm also at the Cominco Arena. Playoff tickets will be available at the Smokie office all week.
