After gift-wrapping a playoff spot last year, you could understand why Dylan Johnson was not in a giving mood in his first game back at the Kopar Memorial Arena.
The 20-year-old goaltender and ex-Prince George Spruce King put the Langley Rivermen on his back Sunday, making 45 saves in a 4-2 road victory against the BCHL’s most northern franchise.
Johnson, who was jettisoned to the Rivermen prior to picking up to PG picking up Charles Edward-Gravel from the QMJHL was the game’s first star.
Down 2-1 heading into the third period, Langley cashed in on their offensive opportunities, lighting the lamp on three unanswered occasions.
On a defensive breakdown, Sam Allaby found a streaking Zachary Benayon who’s shot went over the should of PG goaltender Colin Reay.
Six minutes later, former Windsor Spitfire Tanner Wineguard notched the game-winner for Langley, blasting a one-time through the wickets of Reay who attempted to go post to post.
Aaron Reierson added an empty netter with 1:20 remaining to the ice victory for the Rivermen (7-8-0-0).
In the first period, Andreas Mikrogiannakis put the visitors up by a goal thanks to a hard hit by former Kelowna Rocket and Everett Silvertip Andrew Petruck who separated Spruce Kings captain Isaac Holt from the puck behind the Spruce Kings net.
Kazumo Saskai and Evan Bellamy put PG in the driver’s seat after 40 minutes. Sasaki was sprung on a breakaway after a penalty kill, going five hole on Johnson to even the score.
Bellamy, who recently returned from the QMJHL, teed up a slapshot courtesy of an Ozbej Rep pass that went over the shoulder of Johnson.
Prince George (7-6-0-0) outshot Langley 47-32 while both teams went 0-for-3 on the power-play.
The Spruce Kings are back in action Friday (7pm) and Saturday (6pm) against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs from the Kopar Memorial Arena.
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