The Cranbrook Bucks have made their return to the win column following a strong effort versus the Trail Smoke Eaters Friday night.
The Bucks, who were winless in five games heading into Friday’s contest, needed a win in front of home fans. However, Trail had other ideas to start the first period. The Smokies took an early 1-0 lead with a nice stickhandling play from Josh Schenk at 4:08. Cranbrook was able to find a reply around the twelve-minute mark via Kaslo Ferner’s first goal of the season. The game was tied 1-1 at the first intermission.
The two clubs traded goals again in the second period. Trail went up 2-1 with Adam Marshall’s power play goal at 10:02. It looked like Trail’s lead would hold steady through the third period, but a short handed rush from Julian Frias gave the Bucks the tying goal with less than three seconds remaining in the middle frame. Cranbrook’s buzzer-beater put the game at a 2-2 tie after forty minutes.
Third period action was quite even for both sides. The Bucks were able to extract another goal from Julian Frias early in the final frame, this time on a power play, to put Cranbrook up 3-2 early in the period. Trail pressed, but were unable to beat goaltender Danick Leroux the rest of the way, and the Bucks walked out with a 3-2 victory to start their home and home with the Smokies.
Cranbrook’s win moved their record to 3-5-1, both teams fired 34 shots Friday night. On special teams, the Bucks finished 1/5 on the power play and 3/4 on the penalty kill.
These two teams meet again Saturday night in Trail to finish their home and home.
Buck Tracks:
- First win at Western Financial Place for Danick Leroux.
- 1 assist for Nic Leggett, his first point with the Bucks.
- 4 goals through last 3 games for Julian Frias.
