Langley, BC – The Rivermen earn a big win at home ending their 3 game losing skid, as they beat the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 3-2 in overtime on Friday night (November 22). It was a big two points for the Rivermen who now sit one point back of Prince George for first place in the BCHL Mainland Division. The Rivermen improve to 15-9-1-2 on the season after a big performance in net from Brock Crossthwaite stopping 35 of 37 shots and the Rivermen got two big power play goals.
It was a much improved start for the Rivermen that seemed to provide some life in the early going as James Robinson opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games. The Silverbacks had a number of chances in the opening period but Crossthwaite stood his ground for the Rivermen making 15 saves in the first period. The Silverbacks eventually broke through on the power play as Mitch Ferguson tied the game before the end of the first period.
In the second both teams had a number of trips to the penalty box as the Rivermen’s special teams really went to work at both ends of the ice. The Rivermen penalty kill was able to kill off 2 penalties and they got a power play goal from Captain Mitch McLain to take the lead. A few minutes later the Rivermen looked to take a 2 goal lead but it was waved off due to a high stick.
The Rivermen held their lead through most of the third period until Alex Gillies tied the game with a backhand shot that beat Crossthwaite over the shoulder. After the Silverbacks tied the game things seemed too tightened up and the physical play also started to pick up in the final frame.
With about 2 minutes left in the third the Silverbacks Blake Box took down the Rivermen’s Austin Azurdia from behind and it appeared there was going to be no call on the play. The referee’s had a conference following the hit and ended up assessing a major penalty giving the Rivermen a 5 minute power play. Azurdia went down hard leaving the game with what appeared to be a head injury and he did not return.
The Rivermen failed to score in the final two minutes but sealed the win in overtime, with a point shot from Zach Urban that went in off his teammate Gage Torrel for the winning goal. Finally the Rivermen get back in the win column after losing three straight games. The Rivermen also showed their support for Hockey Fights Cancer Night using pink tape and pink laces in support of the cause. The Rivermen crowd was also decked out in pink and added some extra energy to the team.
The Rivermen now head on the road for 4 straight games before coming back to the LEC to take on Chilliwack December 1 at 7:15pm.
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