Chiefs forward Ryan Donohoe tries to get off a shot during Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Langley Rivermen.
Photograph by: submitted , for the TIMES
The Chilliwack Chiefs moved into first place in the Mainland Division with a convincing 5-1 victory over the rival Langley Rivermen Wednesday at Prospera Centre.
Playing their home first game in more than three weeks, the Chiefs fell behind early, when Evan Anderson scored for Langley midway through the first period.
The Rivermen had a chance to go up by two when they were handed a power play five minutes later. Instead, Ryan Donohoe found the net for the Chiefs to tie the game. The Rivermen would finish a dismal 0-for-8 on the power play on the night. The Chiefs now boast the league's second-best penalty killing and have scored four shorthanded goals on the year, also good for second in the league (behind only the Rivermen's six).
After relying on their top line for much of the first third of the year, the Chiefs' secondary scoring came through Wednesday.
First-liner Luke Esposito gave Chilliwack the lead a little more than a minute into the second period, but the rest of the scoring came from the Chiefs' depth scorers. Jaret Babych extended Chilliwack's advantage with four minutes left in the second. And in the third Donohoe potted his second of the game.
Amidst some hard feelings at the end of the game that saw several players hit the showers early, Garrett Forster capped the night with his second of the year.
The Chiefs travel west to play the Coquitlam Express Friday before returning to Prospera Centre Saturday to host the league-leading Penticton Vees. Both games start at 7 p.m.
