The two-game losing slide of the Abbotsford Pilots came to an abrupt end at the MSA Arena on Friday.
Abbotsford welcomed the Richmond Pilots and special teams helped lead the Pilots to a 3-2 win.
The Pilots went two for four with the man advantage, scoring power play goals in the second and third periods to earn the win.
Abbotsford fell behind early, with the Sockeyes scoring just 68 seconds into the opening frame. The Pilots drew even five minutes later when Philip Gauthier scored, but the Sockeyes re-took the lead just before the end of the first on a power play goal.
Alexander Methorst tied the game up again after scoring with the man advantage, and the Pilots pulled ahead for good with less than three minutes to go when Kellan Lavallee potted the game winner.
Abbotsford’s Devin Becker drew assists on both goals and was named the game’s third star. Goalie Jacob Crawford made 29 saves to earn the win and was named the second star, while Lavallee was named first star.
The win helped soften the blow of the Pilots’ 4-2 loss to the Aldergrove Kodiaks on the road Oct. 7. Sean Olson and Justin Wilde scored for the Pilots.
Abbotsford now sits in third place in the Harold Brittain Conference, with a record of five wins, four losses and one overtime loss. Abbotsford travels to Richmond to battle the Sockeyes on Thursday and then play the Ridge Meadows Flames away from home on Friday. The team then spends the rest of the weekend at its annual fishing derby.
The 16th annual Gary Graber and Richard Newton Memorial Fishing Derby runs on Oct. 17 and 18 at Tamihi Campground on the Vedder River.
The event honours former Pilots player Gary Graber and long-time Pilots volunteer Richard Newton.
For more information on the derby, visit abbotsfordpilots.com.
