The Langley Rivermen played host to the Chilliwack Chiefs for a special ‘Family Day’ game at the Langley Events Centre on Monday afternoon. Coming into the contest, the Chiefs led the season series 4-2. Bo Didur started in net for the Rivermen, while Aiden Pelino countered for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs opened up the scoring early on at the 1:28 mark with a goal from Darien Craighead. During four on four play, Chilliwack doubled their lead thanks to Jordan Kawaguchi at 12:50. Kawaguchi was not done there as he scored a power play goal with 34 seconds remaining to make it 3-0. The Chiefs would take their three-goal lead into the second period and led the shot count 9-3.
In the second, Jordan Kawaguchi capped off the hat-trick scoring the only goal of the period on a Chiefs power play to extend the lead to 4-0 after 40 minutes.
With under eight minutes to play, Zac Masson would break Pelino’s shutout as he put away his own rebound on a breakaway. For Masson, it was an unassisted goal and his eighth goal of the season. At 18:06, Masson scored his second of the period on the power play to cut the Chiefs lead to a pair of goals. Matthew Graham and Ryan Barrow had the assists. However, Kawaguchi sealed the game into the empty net for his fourth of the afternoon to make it a 5-2 final.
Jordan Kawaguchi was the difference maker in the game scoring four out of Chilliwack’s five on the day. The Rivermen are now 27-20-3-0 for 58 points and remain in third place in the Mainland Division. The Rivermen are in action on Thursday, February 11 against the Surrey Eagles at the South Surrey Arena at 7:00pm.
