Jake Lucchini and Tyler Lamont scored 53 second apart in the second period to set up a wild final frame.
| PERIOD 3 |
| Merritt Centennials at 7:17 - Scott Patterson from Sebastien Pare and Jeff Wight |
| Trail Smoke Eaters at 8:05 (PP) - Bryce Knapp from Cody Bardock and Valik Chichkin |
| Merritt Centennials at 11:34 - Scott Patterson from Wayland Williams and Devin Oakes |
| Merritt Centennials at 13:03 - Zach Hartley (unassisted) |
| Trail Smoke Eaters at 18:48 - Travis Stephens from Adam Wheeldon and Jesse Knowler |
It doesn't get much more back and forth than that.
It's an unfortunate outcome for Trail though, a team that has won twice in Merritt this year including the preseason.
It's a blow that now puts nine points between the orange and black and the fourth place Centennials in the standings and therefor a playoff spot.
Team President Tom Gawryletz has made that clear that is what he and the Board of Directors expect, a birth in the postseason.
Still what really isn't clear is why the team has dropped seven straight.
Goaltender Dustin Nikkell's 3-8-1 record does not reflect his play at all this season.
He's been arguably the best Smokie player so far this campaign, and made another 30 + save effort Sunday.
On a night to night basis Nikkell has given his team a chance to win.
Sunday also saw four players find the back of the net for Trail which is a positive for a team that has only five members with more than three goals and collectively have let 33 more goals against then they have put forward.
Brendan Lamont scored for the first time since Sept 21, Travis Stephens continued to prove he is one of the top forwards on the team moving his point total to 11 and newcomer Cody Bardock appeared on the score sheet in his first game as a Smoke Eater.
Bardock came over from the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Sherwood Park Crusader's for future considerations.
The 6'5" 20 year old had 1 goal and 7 points in twleve games with the Crusaders this season.
The weekend also saw the Smokies move blueliner Braeden Jones to the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League also for future considerations.
I'm getting side tracked.
It seems this club is right on the door step and just needs to find a way to open the door so they can finally join the party.
Whether they are going to keep knocking until someone just eventually lets them in for a bit or they just kick it down crash the shindig has yet to be seen.
Maybe it's a matter of finding the key (to their success) that will open that door.
However, for now the Smokies are right on the doorstep but they are on the outside looking in at all the fun.
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