The Trail Smoke Eaters have forced a game 7 in their first round playoff series versus the Westside Warriors.
Trail jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and held on for a 4-3 victory to force a, winner take it all, one game showdown in Westside on Saturday, March 5th.
Travis St. Denis opened the scoring for Trail on the power-play five minutes into the game on a tic-tac-toe passing play that fooled Kevin Boyle. Then moments later Dylan Tappe was left alone in front and roofed the Smokies second goal over Boyle?s glove.
The Warriors finished the stanza down two goals to none while being outshot 12-9.
Westside started the second period somewhat flat, but managed to turn things around in the latter half of the frame.
Using some solid cycle work to their advantage Westside forwards Tyler Brickler and Dru Morrison connected on the Warriors first goal with 7:23 remaining in the second period. Morrison tipped in his second goal of the series after Brickler rifled a tape-to-tape pass to Dru who was left alone in front of Kiefer Smiley.
The Warriors used the momentum and kept coming at the Smoke Eaters in the second. Just over a minute after the first Westside goal Tyler French nabbed his first goal of the series scoring off a big rebound from an Izaak Berglund point shot.
St. Denis took the sails out of Westside when he scored 23 seconds into the third period, the snipers second goal on the night, to make it 4-3 Smokies.
Brett McKinnon at the halfway mark of the third would claw the Warriors back into the game for the second time in as many periods.
McKinnon sent a laser beam top shelf over a sprawled out Smiley from inside the crease. Kyle Singleton picked up the lone assist and was one of the major reasons his team pulled even in the game twice.
Four minutes later St. Denis picked up his hat trick goal by banging the puck home after it took several odd bounces and seemed to fool everybody, including All-Rookie Goaltender Kevin Boyle.
Westside had some chances in the dying minutes, but couldn?t seem tie the game for a third time.
Westside had one power-play early in the first period, but failed to score. Trail went 1-for-3 with their man advantages.
Westside outshot Trail 29-26. The Warriors have won the shot battle in all six games.
Saturday, March 5th will mark the only game in the BCHL as this series has gone the distance and Westside will host game 7.
Gates open at 6pm and puck drop is at 7pm.
In a series that?s been filled with a series of twists, wild overtimes, big goals and so much more Saturday is can?t miss hockey.
