Wenatchee Wild Beat Trail on Fathead Night

The Wenatchee Wild picked up a strong early season win on Friday night at Town Toyota Center, battling to a 3-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Wenatchee dictated the pace for most of the first period, and took advantage of a Trail miscue midway through the frame. With the Smoke Eaters on the power play and advancing through the neutral zone, they coughed up the puck and Wild forward Brett Chorske was able to stride into the Trail zone uncontested where he deked left, then tucked the puck in behind the Trail goalies glove hand for a 1-0 lead at 9:40. Trail mounted a bit of pressure late in the period, but it was 1-0 Wild after 20 minutes.

In the second period, the persistent forecheck of Tyler Young created a turnover, which he zipped cross-ice to Brian Adams who was driving up the right wing. He managed to receive the pass on his backhand and flung it through the goalies pads for a 2-0 lead at 17:06 of the period. Trail cut into the lead with 18 seconds left in the second period when Owen Ozar redirected a Powell Conner feed and it was a one goal game after 40 minutes. Both goalies made some key stops, but Daniel Chenard was particularly sharp, keeping a feisty Smoke Eater attack at bay. Trail outshot Wenatchee 15-11 in the middle frame.

The Wild cranked up the pressure in the third period, and Trail pushed back just as hard. The Smoke Eaters pulled their goalie for the extra attacker with 1:32 to go and a man advantage as well for a 6-on-4 power play, but Dylan Herzog blocked a shot, and Matt Dorsey poked the loose puck ahead for Brian Adams who outraced the Smoke Eaters defender and buried the shorthanded empty netter for the final 3-1 margin. Chenard stopped 27 of 28 shots for the win.

Wenatchee (4-0-1) concludes their homestand against Merritt (1-3-0) on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1340 The Hawk.

All game recaps are provided by Arch Ecker and the Wenatchee Wild