The Langley Rivermen opened their home portion of the season this weekend against the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday, and Saturday they took on the Cowichan Capitals.
Both teams traded chances in the early going of the first period, but it was Chilliwack who grabbed the first goal of the game on a breakaway, and added another 1:21 later to lead 2-0 after 20.
Langley came out flying in the second period of play, and were rewarded for their efforts with a shorthanded goal. Harshaan Kaila got a great feed from fellow returning forward Sam Giangualano, and Kaila returned the favour to Giangualano who fired it top corner to make it 2-1 Chiefs after 40, but another solid period for Langley outshooting Chilliwack 11-4.
After Chilliwack extended their lead early in the third off of a quick passing play.
Newly minted Rivermen captain Josh Frenette would Langley’s first power play goal of the season on a nice back hand play in front off a great pass from Sam Allaby to make it 3-2.
The home team kept the pressure on for another 10 minutes but it was the Chiefs who would score off a weird shot from the blueline, and another into an empty net to make it a 5-2 final.
Saturday’s opponent in Cowichan got an early goal 1:45 in and started out well, but Langley would tie the game 4 minutes later off a great shot from Max Pendy who rifled home his first goal as a Rivermen to make it 1-1 after 20.
6:26 into the second Dmitrii Nazarov would convert a rebound past Capitals goaltender Evan Maillet with a beautiful backhander making it 2-1 Langley.
2:22 later, Harshaan Kaila received a great pass from Nathan Gray and deked out Maillet in tight to make it 3-1 Rivermen midway through the second period.
Late in the second period, Langley’s fourth line would find their way to the net after a great defensive shift earlier in the second period, as Thomas Putnam would put home a shot in tight on a rebound for his first in the BCHL and a 4-1 Rivermen lead after 40.
Early in the third, Mikhail Mishin would score his first BCHL goal on a tip in a Krists Retenais shot to make it 5-1 Rivermen, and Langley would kill off the last 13 minutes and win 5-1.
Next weekend Langley play host to the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday and Saturday the Powell River Kings come to town. Tickets for both games can be purchased at https://www.showpass.com/o/langley-rivermen-2/.
