Rivermen post first winning streak

Langley Rivermen's Scott Moyer celebrates a first-period goal on Oct. 22 at the Langley Events Centre. The goal was big as it was the game's only score in a 1-0 victory over the Powell River Kings.

Garrett James

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A weekend that began with a 7-1 shellacking, quickly took a turn for the better as the Langley Rivermen picked up back-to-back victories to secure four points and their first two-game winning streak.

"It was a good weekend for us, even with the 7-1 loss," said coach Steve O'Rourke.

"There were some good things we did in Victoria in the first 40 minutes that didn't materialize.

"I think the kids looked at the score line and got a bit deflated."

The Rivermen trailed 3-0 after 40 minutes, but Victoria outscored the visitors 4-1 in the third.

Ryan Bakken had the lone Langley goal.

Things didn't get much better the next night in Nanaimo as Langley found itself down 2-0 after 20 minutes.

"We talked about it (our game plan) and even though we went down 2-0 to Nanaimo we stuck to it and scored three in the second period to work our way out of it," O'Rourke said.

Mario Puskarich — his team-leading ninth — Scott Moyer and Mike Tebbutt pulled Langley ahead with second period goals, and after Nanaimo pulled even in the third, Moyer potted the winner with 6:28 remaining.

Langley then returned home on Saturday night to play the Powell River Kings at the Langley Events Centre.

Moyer scored in the first — on one of only two shots the team mustered in the opening 20 minutes — and goaltender Jim Kruger made that hold up, stopping all 37 shots he faced.

"I thought we played a great third game in three nights," O'Rourke said.

"We played very hard, committed, blocked shots and our goalie played very well and we capitalized on our chances."

"They carried the pace (Kings) but we limited their chances, played smart hockey, got the puck out and pursued hard."

A big key was the forwards and defence letting Kruger see the shots.

Powell River outshot Langley 37-14, but only had nine good scoring chances.

Langley  is back in action on Thursday (Oct. 27) when they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. They also welcome Nanaimo to town on Saturday (Oct. 29). That is followed by another visit to Victoria on Sunday afternoon.