Smoke Eaters fend off Grizzlies

The Victoria Grizzlies’ roster got a big boost Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to cool off the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Shawn O’Malley, Cam Thompson and Jacson Alexander all returned from injuries for the Grizzlies on Friday at Cominco Arena, but it was a veteran-laden Smoke Eaters team that treated the 1,783 hometown fans to a win. Trail got a pair of power-play goals from Blaine Caton and two assists from Buffalo Sabres fifthround draft pick Cale Howarth to defeat the Grizzlies 5-4.

The Smoke Eaters jumped out to a 4-1 lead but the Grizzlies wouldn’t go quietly, scoring three straight goals in the second period to send the game to the intermission tied 4-4. But it was a Spencer McLean goal just 58 seconds into the third period that secured the win for Trail.

The Smoke Eaters improve to 8-3-1 on the season, while the Grizzlies fall to 7-4 as they began a three-games-in-three-days road trip that will take them to Penticton tonight and Surrey on Sunday afternoon.

After Drayson Pears opened the scoring for the Grizzlies with his first of the year six minutes into the first period, the Smokies’ offence went to work. Ryan Murphy tied it midway through the first and Caton beat Zack Rose in the Grizzlies net on the power play to put Trail up 2-1 at the break.

Caton and Andre Ghantous, shorthanded, put the Smoke Eaters up 4-1 before the second period was six minutes old. But then it was the Grizzlies’ offence that turned the table. Carter Berger scored 30 seconds after the Ghantous’ shorty, and then Ryan Nolan tipped a Cole Noble shot past Brandon Wells to get Victoria to within one. With two minutes left in the middle frame, rookie Alex Newhook struck for his second of the season to draw the Grizzlies even at 4-4.

Rose made 34 saves in the Victoria net, while Wells turned aside 18 of the Grizzlies’ 22 shots.

LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies’ next home game is Wednesday when the Alberni Valley Bulldogs pay a visit to The Q Centre.