Smokies on fire with weekend wins
By Chris Wahl
Brendan Lamont scored twice, including the game-winner, and Dustin Nikkel made 46 saves as
the Smoke Eaters clinched a perfect weekend defeating the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-2 Saturday.
On the heels of a dramatic come-from-behind victory Friday in Merritt, the Smokies burst out of the gate, scoring twice in the opening six minutes and withstanding a ferocious Spruce Kings attack to secure all four points on their two-game weekend swing.
Lamont opened the scoring just shy of the two minute mark, lifting a rebound over the pad of Prince George goaltender Alex Murray for his third goal of the season, before defenseman Curtis Toneff snapped home his first goal as a Smoke Eater through traffic at the 5:30 mark.
Trail killed four Spruce Kings power-plays in the opening frame as Nikkel stopped all 18 shots he faced.
Lamont would add his second goal, and third point of the night late in period two. With the Smokies on a two-man advantage, the 19 year-old whipped a hard pass across the crease that bounced off a Prince George defender and in to give Trail a 3-0 lead.
Prince George would not go quietly though, and finally solved Nikkel through captain Bryant Christian 9:54 into the third period. Christian strode down the left wing and fired a wrist shot that deflected off a Trail defenseman’s stick past Nikkel. The home side would cut the deficit to 3-2 moments later when Jake LeBrun roofed a shot from the left-wing circle.
Prince George held a heavy shot advantage through the third period, and came close to finding an equalizer before forward Brent Lashuk took a tripping penalty inside the final two minutes. Smokies forward Travis Stephens put home an empty-netter in the dying seconds to secure a second straight Trail victory at the Coliseum.
The Smokies started the weekend in Merritt, and fell behind early Friday when former Trail defenseman Wayland
Williams notched his first BCHL goal on a first period power-play.
Trail got an equalizer early in period two when Adam Ulfsax pounced on a loose puck in the slot to put home his first BCHL goal, but the Centennials would recapture the lead later in the frame.
Forward Bryce Knapp put the Smokies back on level terms early in the third period with a similar goal to Ulfsax’s.
Trail would have to wait until the 18:47 mark of the final frame to find a winner, when Jesse Knowler’s long-range wrist-shot handcuffed Merritt netminder Devin Kero and glanced into the top corner.
Adam Todd made 36 saves for the Smokies Friday to record his first victory of the season.
Trail now plays seven of their next nine games on home ice, beginning Friday night against the Cowichan Valley Capitals (7:30 pm, Cominco Arena). For ticket information, call (250) 368-5000.
