Don’t count them out!
The Cranbrook Bucks are on a five game winning streak after snatching victory from the mitts of the Trail Smoke Eaters in a 4-3 comeback triumph Friday night.
The Smokies got rolling early. Just thirty-eight seconds into the first period, Atilla Lippai scored to put Trail up 1-0. A second Smoke Eaters marker from Drew Anastasio midway through the opening frame doubled their lead to 2-0. The Bucks would get one back from Blake Cotton to cut Trail’s lead to one, but a buzzer beater from Jason Stefanek put the Smokies back into a two goal advantage. The score was 3-1 Trail at intermission.
Both teams clamped down on defense in the second period. The Bucks outshot Trail 10-9, but were still down 3-1 after forty minutes.
The Bucks needed a big third period to keep their winning streak alive, and they got one. An opening minute goal from Rasmus Svartstrom set the tone, and cut Trail’s lead to 3-2. Cranbrook tied the game just past the five minute mark via Blake Cotton’s second goal of the night. Overtime appeared to be a likely outcome with the score tied 3-3 in the dying minutes, but the Bucks were able to strike again. With just over a minute left in regulation, Kaslo Ferner found the net to put Cranbrook in a 4-3 lead. Trail, who had led the game for almost fifty-nine minutes, needed a late goal, but couldn’t knot things up before the final buzzer. Cranbrook’s comeback was complete with a gutsy 4-3 victory on the road.
Friday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 8-1-0. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play went 1/3 and their penalty kill finished 3/3, Trail outshot the Bucks 37-30.
The Bucks return to Western Financial Place Saturday night for the first time since October 4 to face the Vernon Vipers.
Buck Tracks:
- 3 points for Blake Cotton (2g, 1a)
- 1 goal for Kaslo Ferner, 5 game point streak (5g, 2a)
- 2 assists for Sam Lyne
