Township of Langley, BC (Friday, December 18, 2015) – The Langley Rivermen and the Powell River Kings finished off their two game season series at the Langley Events Centre on Friday night. The Kings led the series 1-0 after picking up a 9-3 win back on November 13 in Powell River. Nick Trencianksy started in net for the Rivermen, while Jeff Smith got the call for the Kings.
The Kings were first on the scoreboard with a power play goal at 7:22 from Jake Kohlhauser. Less than six minutes later, the visitors made it a 2-0 game after Austin Kamer converted on a two on zero rush with Jeremy Leipsic. Despite putting 13 shots on Smith, the Riv couldn’t reach the back of the net and went into the intermission down a pair of goals.
Just over seven minutes into the second period, the Rivermen thought they had a power play goal from Torrin White, but the refs determined the puck was kicked in. However, just as the penalty expired, Justin Szeto scored his 11th goal of the season to cut the deficit to one. The play was made possible after Troy Ring did a great job of holding the puck in at the point, who then fed Szeto down the right-wing and banked the puck in off Smith from a sharp angle. Max Kaufman would get the secondary assist on the play. At 17:30, the Rivermen found the equalizer off the stick of Kaufman. The Langley rookie was in the right spot at the right time and put away a rebound in front of the Powell River goaltender. Ginnetti and Szeto earned the assists on Kaufman’s 11th goal of the year. Just when it looked like the game would be tied going into the third period, the Kings capitalized on a late power play with a marker from Tristan Mullin. Powell River led the shot count 26-23 after 40 minutes.
With time ticking down in the third, Matt Saharchuk tied the game at 3-3 with his 10th goal of the season. Zac Masson earned the only assist. Masson was able to get the puck towards the slot and Saharchuk trailing the play, stabbed at it with his backhand and beat Smith blocker side. Overtime was needed after regulation, and after the first overtime solved nothing, Adam Sinclair was the hero scoring 47 seconds into 3 on 3. After a missed Kings chance in the Rivermen zone, Kaufman and Sinclair countered on a 2 on 1 the other way, and Kaufman put a perfect pass on the tape of Sinclair who rifled it five hole.
It was a solid character building win after coming from two goals down after the opening 20 minutes. Kaufman led the way offensively with a goal and two assists, while Szeto chipped in with two points. The Rivermen and their 19-13-1-0 record take on the Coquitlam Express at the Langley Events Centre at 6:00pm.
NOTES: Shots on Goal: LAN 41, POW 31. Power play: LAN 0/4, POW 2/3. Three Stars: 1st: LAN Justin Szeto, 2nd: POW Austin Kamer, 3rd: LAN Adam Sinclair.
