The Langley Rivermen made their final trek to BC’s Northern Capital this past weekend, as they took on the Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday and Saturday.
The Spruce Kings would score early and often in the first period in Friday’s game, grabbing a 3-0 through 20 minutes of play.
Langley would score a minute and 30 seconds into the second period, as Frederic Deschenes would score his second in the last three games to cut the Spruce Kings lead to 3-1. The hosts would score 50 seconds after the Rivermen’s initial goal from Deschenes to give themselves some insurance at 4-1.
However, 1:57 after the fourth Spruce Kings goal, Parker Forlin would find the net for his 10th of the season and third in the last four games to make it 4-2 Prince George.
56 seconds following Forlin’s goal, Hunter Curtis would rip home his second of the season, and cutting the home team’s lead to 4-3 early in the middle frame.
Prince George would hold onto that lead until 12 minutes later where they were able to extend their lead to 5-3.
5 minutes after the Spruce Kings 5-3 goal, Langley would cut the lead to just a single marker once again as Christian Chouha would score his 13th of the season, equalling his career high from last year. Also adding an assist on the play was Zachary Benayon, who extended his point streak to 19 games.
It would remain 5-4 heading to the third, and Langley applied the pressure in the final frame, outshooting Prince George but the Spruce Kings added one more into the empty to win the first game of the double header 6-4.
Despite losing on Friday, the Spruce Kings came out hungrier on Saturday and outshot Langley 15-3, but a strong opening frame by Dylan Johnson made sure it would only be 1-0 after 20 minutes of play for Prince George.
The visitors closed the gap in the shot category in the second period, only outshot 13-11 this time and had some looks on Spruce Kings goaltender Ryder Green, but Prince George would add on two more to give themselves a 3-0 lead after 40.
The hosts would add on one more with 7 minutes eclipsed in the third to win 4-0, and despite some late rough stuff and Rivermen chances the home team were able to close it out for the win.
With the BCHL All Star break happening next weekend in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Langley are not back in action until Friday, January 23rd at home against the Nanaimo Clippers for a 7:15 puck drop, and Saturday, January 24th in Chilliwack. Tickets for Fridays game can be purchased at https://www.showpass.com/o/langley-rivermen-2/.
