Trail, BC: Cam MacDonald scored his 6th of the season and the Vipers out shot the Smoke Eaters, but it wasn’t enough as Trail defeated Vernon 5-2 at the Trail Memorial Centre.
The Smoke Eaters struck early in the game as Owen Ozar snapped home his 11th of the season. Midway through the period, the Vipers equalized on the powerplay as Trey Taylors point shot found its way in making it 1-1. Just over two minutes later Cam MacDonald would give his team a 2-1 lead after Connor Marritt found him in the left circle. Trail tied it up shortly after as a mad scramble in front was finished off by Kent Johnson. The Vipers outshot and outchanced the Smokies in the first period, but it was tied at 2 after 2.
More penalties, but tighter checking hockey followed in the second period. The Vipers penalty kill was solid limiting the three Trail chances. The Vipers had their own chances, but couldn’t solve Paler-Chow. The only goal of the period came to the Smoke Eaters as Kent Johnson struck again, banking in a puck at the side of the net to make it 3-2 after 2.
In the third, the Vipers pushed but hit a goal post and had some good looks on some scrambles in front, but puck luck wasn’t on their side. Walker Erickson increased the Smoke Eater lead to 4-2. Despite another late flurry from the Vipers, the Smoke Eaters would hit the the empty net to make it 5-2.
The Vipers will look to draw even this weekend when they return to the Trail Memorial Centre for a 7pm puck drop at 7pm.
