Cranbrook Bucks – CanucksBanter

By Andrew Chernoff CanucksBanter

October 1, 2022

Try as they might, the Trail Smoke Eaters just can’t put two wins together like their Kootenay rival the Cranbrook Bucks.

The Bucks made it two straight from the Smokies this weekend, who fell to a 1-3 record to begin the season, with a 6-0 loss Saturday night in Cranbrook.

Cranbrook outshot Trail 37-26 (6-12, 20-7, 11-7).

Cranbrook, after their 3-1 road win the night before, continued where they left off, opening the scoring for the second straight game, to lead 1-0 at the first intermission. Nick Peluso, first goal of the season.

The Bucks added to their scoring in the last half of the second period, with a power play goal, by Jack Silich (2), and then took commanding control of the game late in the 2nd, closing out the middle period with their 3rd unanswered goal to lead 3-0. Nick Peluso, second of the game.

It didn’t take the Bucks long to add an exclamation to the game, less than two minutes into the final period, making it 4-0. Rhys Bentham (1).

Trail would try to pull a comeback attempt and do their best to respond with a goal of their own but got into penalty trouble for their efforts resulting in Cranbrook getting their second power play goal of the game to make it 5-0. Kellan Hjartarson (2).

When things go bad, it can get worse, and 93 seconds later it did. With the Smokies on the power play, Cranbrook made it 6-0, with a shorthand goal. Jaxon Fuder (1) unassisted.

Cranbrook goalie Nathan Airey got the shutout; Nick Peluso, a 3 point (2-1=3) night; Jaxon Fuder, 2 points (1-1=2); Rhys Bentham, 2 points (1-1=2); Donovan Frias, 2 points (0-2=2).

Game Highlights

Smoke Signals

The Smokies have gone 83:58 without scoring a goal now.
Trail faces weekend games against Wenatchee Wild and West Kelowna Warriors in Trail on Friday October 7 and Saturday October 8
Trail was 0 for 4 on the powerplay and 2 for 4 on the penalty kill in Cranbrook Saturday night
Smokies have allowed the opening goal of the game in all four games to begin the season, losing 3 of 4 games.
Trail has given up 20 goals against and scored 9 goals to begin the season, and it is not the fault of their goalie tandem of Cole Tisdale and Teagan Kendrick
Trail power play is 4 for 13: 30.77 percent, while penalty kill is 5 for 14: 64.29 percent
Smokies are averaging 2.25 goals per game and 5 goals against per game
Trail have scored 5 even-strength goals of their 9 total goals (4 goals have come on powerplay) in 4-games played
Goals For & Goals Against differential is -11, worst in the British Columbia Hockey League after the first two weeks of play