A fast, flying start for the Delta Ice Hawks on Tuesday night led to a 4-2 win for the home team over the Langley Trappers at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
The lone goal of the first period was scored by Hawks defenseman Luka Zilic. Mitch Lavoie found him with a cross-ice pass and Zilic picked the high-blocker side.
Jordy Engleson made some big saves for Delta on a couple of Langley power plays, keeping the first-place team in the Harold Brittain Conference off the board through the first 20 minutes.
Brice Kemp started the scoring for the Ice Hawks in the second, hustling to beat a Langley defender to the puck in the neutral zone. He came down the wing and squeezed one between Giesbrecht and the post, making it 2-0 with his 15th on the year.
Later on in the frame, Bradley Araki-Young took a shot in the slot that was stopped, but Brad Fortin was right there to send home the rebound for a 3-0 Hawks lead.
Leo Li added to Delta’s goal total by nabbing the puck in the neutral zone and making some beautiful moves around a few Trappers. He carried it into the zone himself and scored another high goal on Giesbrecht.
Early in the third, Langley broke Engleson’s shutout. A long shot from the point was deflected and Brendan O’Grady was able to score easily, as the Hawks goalie had no idea where the puck had gone.
Right before the media time out, there was a fight for the puck along the boards in the Icehawks’ zone and Brandon Rexhepi came away with the puck. He was able to beat Engleson far side to cut Delta’s lead to 4-2.
Langley continued their pressure throughout the rest of the third period, even pulling their goalie with two minutes remaining in the game down two goals, but with a bunch of great saves from Engleson and a couple lucky bounces, the Icehawks came away with the win.
The Ice Hawks continue their push for the playoffs and are now tied in points in the standings with the Aldergrove Kodiaks, who sit in fourth place in the Brittain Conference. Wednesday looms large for Delta, as they play Aldergrove on their home turf at 7:15pm.
