Monday 7 October 2013

Smokies can't crack the code at Cominco Arena.

The struggles continue for the Trail Smoke Eaters in their own barn after another winless weekend on home ice.

The Orange and Black were able to manage only a single point from two outings in the Silver City this past weekend,  which is getting to a stage where....it just isn't good enough.

Trail now sits 1-5-1 when playing host this season, being outscored 33-11 in the process.

"I don't know. I mean, before the game and [during] the intermissions the guys seem focused and into it [but] then we're just flat. There's nothing to really explain it right now, we're trying to figure it out," replied forward Scott Davidson after I asked him if he could give a reason for the troubles they've experience at home early on.

The Smokies didn't get much right in a 6-1 loss to the Merritt Centennials Saturday, preceded by a 3-3 draw with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Friday. The latter saw Trail fall behind 2-0 in the first period and then let a 3-2 lead get away from them in second frame. The match against Merritt saw Trail outshot 37-17.

"We just didn't really show up. The guys work ethic wasn't really there and [we] just kind of struggled," explained Davidson - who was still in full uniform - following Saturday's game.

Head coach Bill Birks had the doors closed for a considerably lengthy post game chat with his team. When they opened, Birks emerged clearly, and understandably, upset and every played was still dressed in their equipment. It seemed like they were staying that way for a while.

When I asked Birks why the group did not appear to be taking off their gear, he said he didn't know yet. However, my guess was even though the Smokies just finished 120 minutes on Cominco ice over the weekend, Trail's bench boss wasn't done seeing his team skate.

Saturday's loss was the second time this season Merritt has come into Trail and won by five goals. The first was 5-0 shutout. The Smokies will meet the Cents again on Oct.20th in the Nicola Valley but they won't have a chance to seek revenge on home ice til Dec 7th.

Looking ahead, four of Trail's next six games are against divisional opponents as they look to get out of this hole they've dug themselves - which happens to land them at the bottom of the standings right now.

"Yeah they're huge," explained Davidson. "We just need to get a good week of practice here and we've talked about how we ended up a bit of slump [earlier] and how these [upcoming] games are huge and next Sunday we could be feeling on top of the world again."

Here's hoping.

The Smokies are on the road Thursday to kick off a home and home with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. We will not have a broadcast on our behalf that game but you can tune into the Salmon Arm's call on fasthockey.com,

The second half of the set will be held in the Silver City Friday and the Smokies will try not to make turkeys out of Powell River when they host the Kings on Thanksgiving Sunday.


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