The Langley Thunder earned a home-and-home split with the Victoria Shamrocks on Friday night, posting an 11-7 victory at The Q Centre.
Langley rebounded after an 11-4 loss to Victoria on Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre.
The Thunder handed the Shamrocks their first loss of the season, dropping Victoria to 2-1. Meanwhile, Langley picked up its first win of the campaign to improve to 1-3. The Maple Ridge Burrards now stand as the league’s only undefeated team at 3-0.
Keegan Okino had a strong outing between the pipes for Langley, stopping 48 of 54 shots in the win. The Thunder were led by Connor Watson, who recorded a hat trick and three assists for six points.
For Victoria, Zach Manns had a six-point night with two goals and four assists to lead the Shamrocks offensively. In goal, Chris Origlieri played 22:02, stopping 14 of 21 shots. Adam Bland played 36:57 in relief and stopped 16 of 20 shots.
First Period
Right off the opening faceoff, Langley got on the board as Evan Messenger scored unassisted just 10 seconds into the game.
Watson then set up Jon Phillips at the 1:09 mark to put the Thunder up 2-0.
Victoria got on the board 6:11 into the first period when Brenden Jamieson beat Okino.
However, the Thunder responded with a two-goal run. Watson scored at 7:05 off a Leon Bohm pass, followed by Devin Pipher’s power-play marker at 11:36.
The Shamrocks answered with a pair of goals of their own to pull within one.
Cole Pickup found the back of the net at 12:04, and Koen Block scored with 5:13 remaining in the period to make it 4-3.
Coady Adamson rounded out the scoring with 4:24 left in the frame as Langley took a 5-3 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
The Thunder struck early again in the second period. Dante Kulas scored 1:01 into the frame to put Langley ahead 6-3.
Bohm extended the lead at the 2:20 mark, capping a three-goal run for Langley off an assist from Ben Vanderkley.
Manns converted off an assist from Marshal King just 19 seconds later to get the Shamrocks back within three.
Watson scored in transition at the 7:43 mark of the second period, restoring Langley’s four-goal advantage at 8-4.
Block rounded out the second-period scoring with a power-play goal and 7:53 remaining on the clock. The Thunder carried an 8-5 lead into the third period.
Third Period
Victoria pushed back in the third period and cut the deficit to one goal.
Brodie Wade found Marshal King for a goal 3:52 into the period. Manns then scored on a penalty shot at 6:39 to make it 8-7.
Langley responded by closing out the game with a three-goal run.
Adamson scored on the power play at 11:41, followed by a shorthanded marker from Watson at 13:56.
Kulas rounded out the scoring with 1:45 remaining as the Thunder secured the home-and-home split with an 11-7 victory.
Top Scorers
Langley Thunder
- Connor Watson, 3g, 3a
- Dante Kulas, 2g, 3a
- Jon Phillips, 1g, 3a
Victoria Shamrocks
- Zach Manns, 2g, 4a
- Marshal King, 1g, 2a
- Koen Block, 2g
- Brodie Wade, 2a
Three Stars
- Keegan Okino, Langley Thunder
- Connor Watson, Langley Thunder
- Zach Manns, Victoria Shamrocks
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