It was a rough two days for Langley Rivermen, who made a stop in Coquitlam to take on the Express on Friday, Nov. 3 before returning home the next day at the Lodge to take on the same Express team.
Rivermen associate coach Tyler Kuntz described the back-to-back losses, 3-2 and 3-1 as “a tough weekend for us.”
“[In] both games we battled hard and created a lot of chances but the bounces did not go our way,” Kuntz commented.
In the first game against Coquitlam, Luke Ashton scored for the Rivermen just 27 seconds into the game. Express tied the game four and a half minutes later.
Hot start for the Riv! 🔥
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) November 4, 2023
Luke Ashton opens the scoring just 27 seconds into the hockey game! #BCHL | @LangleyRivermen pic.twitter.com/bQc5cdccZ9
Rivermen had to wait until the last 20 seconds of the second period to score again, on a power play as Max Borovinsky redirected an Ashton shot in the net for his career-high fourth goal of the season.
That would be the last Langley goal of the game.
At 5:32 into the final period, Coquitlam tied the game, and with four and a half minutes to go, scored again to make it 3-2.
Rivermen pulled goalie Charlie Tritt with a minute to play but couldn’t get past express netminder Adam Manji.
Langley outshot Coquitlam, with Tritt stopping 26 of 29 compared to Manji blocking 37 of 39.
Highlights from the second of two back to back matches against Coquitlam this weekend. Saturday night's highlights against @BCHLExpress 🏒🚨🏒#RIVNATION pic.twitter.com/r8GemswWY4
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) November 5, 2023
On Saturday, before 1,092 at the Lodge in George Preston, another strong start by the Rivermen with six shots in the first few minutes, but it produced no goals and both teams went into the first period scoreless.
Coquitlam scored in the second period on a power play goal 5:37 into the frame, and held the lead the rest of the way.
In the third, Express added a second goal with four minutes to play.
Langley’s Ashton then scored, collecting his third straight game with a goal.
Coquitlam had a late empty-netter to seal it and win the third meeting of the season 3-1.
Next, Rivermen head out on the road next weekend to play the ninth-ranked Cowichan Capitals on Saturday, Nov. 11, and the third-ranked Victoria Grizzlies on Sunday.
They are back at home on Saturday, Nov. 18th to take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who are currently second in conference standings. Puck drop is 7:15 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.langleyrivermen.com.
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