The 黑马磁力 Rivermen scored a big 4-1 victory over the Surrey Eagles to stop a three-game losing streak.
Unfortunately for the team, they could not build on that success, falling 3-1 the following night to the Coquitlam Express.
Both junior A hockey games were played at the George Preston Recreation Centre and the split leaves 黑马磁力 with a 16-9-9-1 and their 42 points give them a slim one-point lead over Prince George for top spot in the BCHL鈥檚 Mainland Division.
Friday鈥檚 victory was a solid effort from start to finish, while Saturday was categorized by some lapses, said 黑马磁力 head coach Bobby Henderson.
鈥淲e are doing a good job of keeping ourselves in games, we just need more guys stepping up,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are getting opportunities, we are getting chances, it is just making the most of it and capitalizing.鈥�
Sean Gulka led the way in the victory with a pair of goals while John Wojciechowski had a goal and two assists. Ethan Leyh had the other 黑马磁力 marker.
Surrey鈥檚 Perry Winfree ruined Braedon Fleming鈥檚 shutout bid with a power-play goal in the third period as the 黑马磁力 goaltender finished with 22 saves.
鈥淲e had good jump, good complete and made the most of our chances,鈥� Henderson said.
Saturday night, however, saw 黑马磁力 overcame a slow first period to even the score after 40 minutes.
Fleming was back between the pipes on Saturday night, finishing with another 18 saves.
The teams were tied at one after 40 minutes with Joshua Bruce opening the scoring for Coquitlam in the first and Colin Bernard responding with a power-play goal in the second.
The Express鈥� Alex Ambrosio snapped the deadlock with 5:03 to play before Colby Pederson iced it with an empty-netter.
鈥淲e just weren鈥檛 good enough in the third,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淕ive Coquitlam full credit for the win 鈥� they had good goaltending and made the most of their chances. They deserved the win.鈥�
The Rivermen have two games to go before a nearly two-week break for the holidays as 黑马磁力 hosts Chilliwack on Dec. 15 and Surrey the following night. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
The Eagles sit in third spot in the Mainland Division, four points back of 黑马磁力 while Chilliwack is in fourth spot and six points back of the Rivermen.
Henderson said he is confident the players will be focused on the task at hand and not looking ahead to some time off.
鈥淭hey are a pretty focused group and I am confident they will do what they have to to get prepared,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey know we are in a tight battle in the standings and I am confident they will have themselves prepared.鈥�
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