Recap – Slow Start Hurts Smoke Eaters As They Push Late But Fall 4-3 To Bucks

The Smoke Eaters come up just shy of a full recovery on Saturday night after the Bucks scored two goals a minute apart inside the opening five minutes and eventually hold on for one goal victory.

It wasn’t the start the Smoke Eaters were hoping for a they came into Cranbrook looking to finally get one back over their Kootenay Rivals. The Smoke Eaters started the game with back to back shifts inside the offensive zone getting three shots on Airey, with Marshall’s shot of the offensive faceoff win being the most dangerous of the three. From there the Bucks would take control over the next few minutes scoring two goals a minute apart, 3:30 and 4:30 into the first period. Both goals came from the Bucks blueline as Bentham tallied the first one of the night as he walked into the Smoke Eaters zone, cut wide left and then let his shot go from the bottom of the left circle, finding just a sliver of room past Maddocks for a 1-0 Bucks lead. Kungle would double that a minute later as he also charged at the Smoke Eater net, this time for the right point and got a low shot away the beat the crowd and Maddocks. The Smoke Eaters elected to call a time out at that point and it showed as the first period went on, with the Smoke Eaters generating a few good chances but not finding the back of the net, as the Bucks would take a two goal lead to the second period.

The Smoke Eaters were gifted a lifeline in the second period as the Bucks seemed to have all the control, but goaltender Nathan Airey served up a pass right to the stick of Brody Juck who put the puck into the open net bringing the Smoke Eaters back within one.

The Bucks would again respond and take a two goal lead into the third as Jaxon Fuder beat Maddocks at the back post after the Bucks stripped the puck from Bushy and Noah Quinn found his teammate for the 3-1 goal.

The Smoke Eaters wouldn’t go away quietly and again brough the game within one as Brady Hunter scored 35 seconds into the third period as his shot deflected off a Bucks player and perfectly into the net past Airey, giving the Smoke Eaters and early boost.

Trail would have a few more chances in the third period to tie the game but the Bucks would once again increase the gap to two goals just after the midway point of the third, as the Bucks captain would add his second of the night, this time with a point shot the go through the screen in front to make it 4-2. The Smoke Eaters would score late on the powerplay as Marshall got the last touch on the double deflection with just over two minutes to go, once again bringing the Smoke Eaters within one.

That would be as close as the Smoke Eaters would get however despite complete control in the final two minutes, they just couldn’t find the equalizer and fall 4-3 to Cranbrook, wrapping up the season series against the Bucks. The Smoke Eaters hit the road again next weekend with games in West Kelowna and in Vern