The Langley Rivermen came into the week riding a two-game losing streak after games against the Coquitlam Express and the Nanaimo Clippers. With two home games against divisional opponents this weekend, the Rivermen looked to get back to their winning ways. The Rivermen welcomed the Coquitlam Express to the Lodge on Friday night and on Saturday night, the Surrey Eagles paid a visit. October has seen the Rivermen play their best hockey of the season, winning four of six games and that success continued this weekend.
Rivermen Blank The Express
RIV WIN
Devin Leduc scores twice and Braedon Fleming records his second shutout of the season as the Rivermen blank the Express by a score of 2-0
Next Home Game: Tomorrow night vs. Surrey at the Lodge pic.twitter.com/zZ69R3FDuF
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) October 19, 2019
The Coquitlam Express came to town for the final time this season riding a three-game winning streak and one of the best records in the Mainland Divison at 10-2. None of this mattered to the Langley Rivermen as they had one goal in mind, and that was to get back to their winning ways. It was a relatively close game, the first period saw back and forth action. The second period was where all the action was, as Devin Leduc scored twice, once on the powerplay and once short-handed. There was some rough stuff in the second period as well as Tanner Komzak and Luke Burke had a spirited fight and even Matteo Pecchia got into the action as he dropped the gloves with Addison Macey. Goaltender Braedon Fleming stayed hot as he stopped all 27 shots he faced and picked up his second shutout of the season.
Rivermen Outlast The Eagles
RIV WIN
Jonathan Stein leads the way with two goals on a hectic Saturday night at the Lodge as the Rivermen down the Eagles by a score of 5-3
Next Game: Wednesday at Coquitlam
Next Home Game: November 8th vs. the Chilliwack Chiefs pic.twitter.com/bD9R4RPZTH— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) October 20, 2019
Coming off a shutout victory against one of the top teams in the division, the Rivermen welcomed the struggling Eagles to the Lodge on Saturday night. This was a wild game, captain Tanner Versluis opened the scoring in the first period and Jonathan Stein scored his first of two goals in the second period.
The third period is where the craziness happened. Brian Scoville scored early into the third to make it 3-0 but the Eagles came crawling back to make it 3-2 midway through the period. Stein scored his second of the game on a beautiful shot, however, the Eagles didn’t think it actually went in.
As the Rivermen were celebrating an Eagles player went down and tried to score on Braedon Fleming, and this caused a crazy scene on the ice, punches where being thrown and after about 10 minutes of debate, the goal counted but the Eagles came away with a 7-minute power play. The Eagles were only able to score once on the extended power play and Brendan Budy picked up his 8th goal of the season as he put the puck into the empty net in the final minute of the third for a 5-3 win for the Rivermen.
Langley Head Coach Bobby Henderson was happy with what he saw over the weekend as it seems like the Rivermen have found their identity. He had high praise for Jonathan Stein after his two-goal game. “He was the difference in the hockey game, he has been sitting on that potential and it was nice to see him have a breakthrough like that.”
The Rivermen climbed back to a .500 record after their rough start to the season, their key players are producing offense when needed, and their role players have stepped up when they needed to. The Rivermen are back in action on Wednesday, October 23rd as they head to Coquitlam for another battle against the Express.
