The Blackfalds Bulldogs dropped a tough 4-2 decision to the Trail Smoke Eaters last night in Trail. Despite outshooting their opponents 28-18, the Bulldogs couldn’t find a way to solve the Smoke Eaters’ defense and goaltending. Trail’s netminder Cooper Michaluk, making his first start after missing about three months with an injury, was outstanding. The 20-year-old turned aside 26 shots, including several big ones late in the third when Blackfalds was pushing hard for the equalizer. His performance earned him the win and kept Trail’s lead intact. It’s now two losses this season for the Bulldogs against the Smoke Eaters. Trail sits in second place in the Interior West Division, while Blackfalds still holds top spot in the Interior East (the Alberta-based side of the conference).(As for Trail itself—yeah, it’s an industrial town with the smelter and all, so it can look pretty gritty and smoky from certain angles, but that’s part of its character for better or worse.)
Erik Pastro makes it 1-0 Smoke Eaters at 1:23 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Zach Coutu and Ryan Oothoudt.
Shots on goal in the first period were 11-8 for the Smoke Eaters
6’6 Welland, Ontario native Dylan Lariviere made it a 2-0 Smokies game on the Power Play at 2:33 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Christian Kim and Mathias Pape.
Evan Stasnty fought Caden Stoltz there was a very obvious size difference, but one has to hand it to Stoltz for doing way better than one would of thought. Even though the Bulldogs got the 2 minute instigator (which they deserved) it sparked the bench.
After awesome forechecking short handed Dean Toskos scores to get the bulldogs within one at 4:49 of the second period unassisted.
Joey Melo ties the game up at 6:15 of the second period to make it 2-2. The assists on the goal went to Brendan Giles and Alex Bosland.
Smokies take the lead 3-2 at 16:45 of the second period when 20 year old Coquitlam naive Brayden Sinclair scored his 7th goal of the season. Assists on the goal went to former Victoria Royal Matthew Keller and Christian Kim.
Shots on goal in the second period were 10-5 for the Bulldogs
Cash Carter makes it a 4-2 game for the Smoke Eaters when he scores one into the empty net at 19:20 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Otto Hanson and Max Hense.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-2 for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs outshot Trail 28-18 in the game.
Former Spokane Chief Cooper Michaluk made 26 saves on the 28 shots that he faced for the win for the Smoke Eaters. For the Bulldogs Carson Mertz stopped 14 of the 17 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Brayden Sinclair 2) Dean Toskos 3) Dylan Lariviere
Attendance in Trail was 1879
Bulldogs next game is Sunday January 25th in Cranbrook against the Bucks.
