Port Coquitlam Saints win home opener over Thunder

After a big season opening win against the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Tuesday night, the Port Coquitlam Saints looked to go 2-0 in front of their home crowd on Friday night against the Langley Thunder.

The Saints opened the scoring early when KeeganBell scored 1:20 into the first period and they quickly made it 2-0 after a ConnorFrost goal at 3:35. Their two-goal lead did not last long as the Thunder got on the board at the 5:29 mark when DylanKaminski scored on the power play.

The Thunder had multiple chances to even the score as they had two power plays in the next five minutes of the period, but they failed to beat Saints goaltender AndrewGallant. 

Before the end of the first period, the Saints were able to pot another goal with Kaminski serving a crease play penalty as GregLunde made it 3-1 to round out the first period.

After a first period where both teams seemed to be playing safe, all hell broke loose in the second period. The Saints netted three goals within the first seven minutes of the second period with TyKlarner netting two of the three and Frost scoring his second of the game. The Saints and Thunder then continued to exchange goals, making it 9-5 with five minutes remaining in the period. Even though the Thunder received three penalties in the second, the Saints only managed to score on one of the power plays. The Thunder made it a 9-6 game with 4:03 left in the period, but TyGoff made it 10-6 Saints before the second period ended. 

The Saints proved to be too much for the Thunder as they ran away with the game in the third period. The Saints scored two goals in the first five minutes of the period, which basically put the game away. The Thunder got into penalty problems again, receiving four of the five penalties called in the third period, where the Saints were able to go 2/4 on the power play and Goff was able to complete his hat trick on the second power play goal to make it 14-6 Saints. The Thunder scored a late one, but the Saints went on to win their home opener 14-7. 

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Port Coquitlam – ConnorFrost – 2 Goals, 2 Assists

2. Port Coquitlam – Tanner Rennich – 1 Goal, 4 Assists 

3. Langley – Christian Bosa – 2 Goals, 2 Assists 

The Saints will look to go 3-0 when they travel to the island to take on the Nanaimo Timbermen on Sunday, while the Thunder is right back at it on Saturday to take on the Delta Islanders at the Ladner Leisure Centre.