GET YOUR RIVERMEN TICKETS NOW! CLICK HERE

Rivermen Gameday: Game 4- Wild @ Rivermen

What can these two teams possibly have for an encore tonight? Playoff games do not get more (insert adjective here), than what the fans at George Preston witnessed in game three last night. After spotting the Wild a 4-0 lead, the Rivermen fought back and tied the game at 4-4 before the contest was even halfway over. The visitors would score back to back to end the second period and took a 6-4 lead into the third period, only to have the Riv come back and tie it once again. After Matthew Graham got his team to within one, and a Matty Saharchuk goal disallowed, Justin Szeto scored is first career BCHL playoff goal with less than four minutes to go to send the game into overtime. It only took 18 seconds for the Wild to get the game winner off the stick of Kyle Stephan who banked the puck in off a body in front of Nick Trenciansky.

“Our start is what hurt us the most in the end I would have to say. We are team that needs to play with a lead and keep a tight game. A 7-6 run and gun style is not who we are, so we will have to make the necessary changes tonight,” said Torrin White, who is second in BCHL playoff goal scoring with four.

Despite the loss, the fans in attendance got their monies worth after seeing their team fight back and tie the game not once, but twice.

“We never quit and showed we have the will power throughout our line-up and the offensive weapons to score goals when we need to. It was nice for us to mount those comebacks, but we can’t make it a habit,” said Associate Head Coach & Assistant GM Kurt Astle.

After three games, a total of 27 goals have been scored between the two squads, which is the highest scoring first round playoff series in the BCHL after three games. A remarkable 19 different skaters have scored at least a goal so far.

“Both teams play at a fast pace and have many guys up and down the line-up that can put the puck in the net. Sometimes in a smaller rink like George Preston, you will see a lot of goals put on the board like what happened last night. With that said, both teams have two really good goaltenders and wouldn’t be surprised if goals are hard to come by the rest of the way,” continued White.

After clawing their way back and forcing overtime, White admits it was tough to lose just 18 seconds into overtime, but it is important to turn the page and not dwell on it.

“It was disappointing for sure, but we have to regroup and even up this series. It all begins with having a good start to the game tonight and if we stick to our game plan and play with a lead, we should be fine,” White finished.

Game four tonight is a 7:00pm face-off from George Preston Recreation Centre. To purchase tickets online, Click Here , call the LEC at 604-882-8800 or visit the George Preston box office at 6:00pm.