Both teams scored goals in the opening period. Brett Mulcahy struck first for Surrey by firing a one-timer past Langley goaltender James Barr from the high slot. But just over two minutes later, the Rivermen answered when Ben Butcher beat Santaguida on the short side with a wrister off the left boards.
Thursday night's match-up was very different from the two games the Eagles and Rivermen played last weekend. While the previous match-ups were fast, high scoring and up tempo, this game was a defensive battle with both net minders standing strong. Neither team generated many high quality scoring chances, and the Eagles ground out the extra goal to claim the two points.
Santaguida made a couple of key saves late in the hockey game for Surrey. First, he stopped Langley's leading scorer Mario Puskarich on a breakaway in the final minute of the third period, turning the shot away with the blocker. Then he made another big save in the first overtime period when Mitch McLain snapped a one-timed shot on goal from the slot. Barr made a number of big stops in the Langley goal as well. Most notably, he turned Mason Blacklock aside on a breakaway in overtime as the White Rock native tried to beat him between the wickets.
In the end, Klimek netted the winner after Drew Best got the puck in the left corner and fed him a cross ice pass at the right circle. Klimek waited a moment, before snapping a shot over the left shoulder of Barr to give Surrey the win.
Neither team scored on the power play in the hockey game as the Eagles went 0-for-4 while the Rivermen were 0-for-1. Langley out shot Surrey 34-31.
The Birds will get right back at it tomorrow evening with a game in Merritt against the Centennials. The face-off is at 7:30pm from the Nicola Valley Arena.
Official 3 Stars:
1. James Barr - Langley
2. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
3. Jordan Klimek - Surrey
My 3 Stars:
1. Michael Santaguida - Surrey
2. James Barr - Langley
3. Jordan Klimek - Surrey
No comments:
Post a Comment