Well, this isn’t the outcome Langley Rivermen fans were hoping to have after the first two games of the playoffs, but here we are. After losing their series opener to the Express on Friday night, the Riv faithful headed back to Coquitlam seeking redemption. Unfortunately, that was not the outcome. A combination of running into a hot power play and some lights out goaltending by Jack Watson was enough for the Express to win game two 3-0.
First Period
Both teams came out of the gate fast, there was back and forth action with a scrum after almost every whistle. Nothing showed on the scoreboard, but the Rivermen looked full of energy and just couldn’t buy a bounce. Jonathan Mor made some huge saves in the first to keep the Express off the board. Heading into the intermission it was a scoreless tie.
Second Period
The power play for the Express was on fire in the first game and game two was no different. Midway through the second period, Langley’s Joseph Musa was sent to the box for interference. That opened the door for Greg Lapointe to pick up his first goal of the playoffs off a nice set up by Cooper Connell and Joshua Wildauer. Both teams traded chances late in the second, but the period finished with the Express up 1-0.
Third Period
Coquitlam increased its lead just under two minutes into the third when Ethan O’Rourke scored a power play goal with assists to Danny Pearson and Will Margel. Then, with under six minutes to go, Connell put the game out of reach when he added another power play goal to put the Express up 3-0. Adam Trotman and Joshua Wildauer picked up the assists on that one.
Despite some rough stuff, the Express held on to win game two and go up 2-0 in the series. Jack Watson stopped all 26 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the playoffs.
The series shifts to Langley on Tuesday as the Rivermen will look to defend home ice in Game 3 against the Express
Get your tickets for Game 3 and 4 here: https://t.co/Y1s6wT2WYS pic.twitter.com/KdIhYLZXXi
— Langley Rivermen (@LangleyRivermen) March 2, 2020
Returning home
Game three of the 2020 BCHL playoffs heads back to Langley on Tuesday night and a big home crowd could be the spark the Riv need. A big factor in this series so far has been special teams, the Express are 6 for 16 on the power play and that can’t continue if Langley wants to win. Scoring also hasn’t come easy for the Rivermen this series, they will need to find an offensive boost if they want to stay in it.
