The Nanaimo Buccaneers had been playing some good hockey, but didn’t have much to show for it in recent weeks.
So they feel pretty good about getting back in the win column.
The Bucs (5-7) defeated the Campbell River Storm 5-2 on Thursday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre to snap a five-game losing streak.
“I thought the kids really played well; I thought they moved the puck well,” said Brad Knight, coach of Nanaimo’s junior B team. “The puck was definitely working for us tonight and guys were making good decisions.”
The Storm held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but the Bucs began to wrest control. Will McNamara scored early in the second period, and then after the visitors went ahead again, Nanaimo’s Jake Kaese finished off a late flurry to make the score 2-2 heading into the third.
Jordan Levesque and Lynden Eddy scored on well-executed power plays in the third period.
“We were just playing it simple,” Levesque said. “Not over-passing the puck or anything, just getting shots on net as soon as we can and capitalizing on our scoring chances.”
Knight said his team was successful on the power play because players were feeling good about their game by the third period.
“When you’re playing well and you’re positive and you’re playing with confidence, of course the puck moves a lot better,” he said.
Eddy added an empty-net goal and finished with three points in the game, as did Garrett Dunlop who dished three assists. Cameron Large made 24 saves as his team outshout the opposition 40-26.
GAME ON … The Buccaneers play a rematch against the Storm on Friday up Island. Next Thursday (Oct. 18) the Peninsula Panthers visit the NIC for a 7:15 p.m. faceoff.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com