The Trail Smoke Eaters wrap up a tough stretch of six out of seven games on the road this weekend.
It begins with tonight’s showdown against the Bulldogs in Blackfalds, in the first meeting of the season series.
The Smokies are the hottest team in the BCHL with four straight wins and points in five in a row, while the Bulldogs will battle to end a ten game losing streak.
However, five of those have been one-or-two-goal setbacks and their last win on October 26, was a 4-3 defeat of Brooks, in what was the Bandits first loss of the season.
The Smoke Eaters are coming off Sunday’s gritty 2-1 win in overtime against Surrey, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Cominco Arena.
Lucas Lemieux scored the dramatic overtime winner and has since been voted into the BCHL All Star Showcase next month in Salmon Arm.
The Smokies also welcome back Jack Kennedy. The stalwart 20-year-old defenseman and assistant captain missed all three games last weekend with an injury.
Trail’s penalty kill has been outstanding.
It has suppressed 13 straight opposition power plays, including a pair of four-minute kills and has been successful in 36 of the last 37 opportunities.
The power play has struggled. It is 0-for-its-last-9 chances and has two goals in its last 23 advantages.
Jack Ziliotto has been a road warrior, with points in his last six games away from Cominco Arena and has been a key contributor to Trail’s penalty kill.
He is also tied with Judah Makway for the team lead in power play goals with three each.
Captain Ridge Dawson leads the team with two shorthanded goals, including the winner last Saturday night in Salmon Arm, a goal set up by Ziliotto.
Goalie Teagan Kendrick has been instrumental in the team’s success since opening night. The 20-year-old is tied for 2nd in wins among BCHL puck-stoppers with 12, his 1,152 minutes is second most and his 556 saves are ranked fourth.
The game also marks the return of Aidan Castle to Blackfalds. The Smokies acquired the 20-year-old winger from the Bulldogs two weeks ago. He scored the game tying power play goal late in the third period last Friday night in West Kelowna.
The Bulldogs have made four additional trades since then.
Game time is 6 p.m. Pacific, with all the action available on Mixlr and FloHockey.
