The Trail Smoke Eaters went into the South Okanagan Events Centre and scored three times in the first period on their way to a 6-0 win over the Penticton Vees.
Sam Mellor scored a power play goal early on and set up another on the man advantage by Scott Jacklin later in the period to make it 3-0.
Penticton seemed to find their legs in the second and third, outshooting 27-12 in the final two periods but couldn't solve Kiefer Smiley who wound up with 32 saves on the night.
Eric Walker, in the second, and Paul Mailey and Cullen Bradshaw in the third added singles for the Smokies to seal it. The win gives Trail 66 points on the campaign, keeping them in fourth place, four back of Penticton and two behind Salmon Arm.
Matt Ginn was instrumental in the Victoria Grizzlies 3-1 road win over the Surrey Eagles. Ginn made 20 saves in a scoreless first period and would up with 40 stops on the night to take first star. Joel Lowry and Mitch Labreche scored in the second before Richard Vanderhoek could get Surrey on the board. Kyle St. Denis tallied in the third for Victoria.
The Vernon Vipers capitalized on Penticton's loss and moved six points clear of the Vees in the Interior Conference with a 4-1 home win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Vipers led 2-1 after two periods on goals by Dylan Walchuk and David Robinson while Josh Mitchel scored for the 'Dogs. Darren Nowick and Kyle Murphy iced it for the Snakes with goals in the third.
Another shutout win on the road was picked up by the Nanaimo Clippers in Prince George. After a scoreless first, Brayden Jaw and Victor Newell tallied in the second. Jaw got his second of the game into an empty net late in the third. Charles-Andre Pelletier made 17 saves for the shutout.
Defenceman Josh Manson scored two goals and an assist to lead the Salmon Arm SilverBacks to a 6-3 home win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Manson assisted on David Killip's opening goal and scored early in the second before Mike Hammond made it 3-0. Clayton Chessa got the Caps on the board but Hammond scored again shortly after. Manson's second of the game came on the power play early in the third.
The Powell River Kings scored twice in the first and three times in the third in a 5-1 road win over the Coquitlam Express. Brenden Forbes and Braden Pears scored early on before Jason Grecica picked up the only Express goal. Andrew Pettitt, Brendan Hawryluk and Forbes scored in the third.
