SMOKIES DOWN 3-0 TO VIPERS AFTER LOSS IN TRAIL

TROY RING – FIRST GOAL OF THE PLAYOFFS – FORTIS ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME After a 7-1 loss on home ice on Monday night the Smokies find themselves down 3 games to none in their best of seven series with the Vernon Vipers.  With injuries to key players in their lineup the Smokies struggled in the game to mount a sustained attack against the Vipers.  Out of the lineup were Ryan Moon, Josh Laframboise and Tyson Slater as well as other players playing at less than 100% due to various injuries. The Vipers got on the board early with a goals at 1:20 and 2:50 of the first period.  They went on to score two more goals by the end of the period to take a commanding 4-0 lead and proved to be insurmountable for the Smokies. The Smokies fought back in the second period out-shooting the Vipers 19-13 and scoring the only goal in the period at 9:52.  Troy Ring scored his first of the playoffs assisted on by Luke Santerno. THE RETURN OF KORBYN CHABOT ADDED MUCH NEEDED PHYSICALITY That would be as close as the Smokies would get as Vernon scored the only two goals of....