The Mission City Outlaws finally bumped the slump on Saturday night.
Mission welcomed the Port Moody Panthers to the Mission Leisure Centre on Saturday, and ended a three-game losing slide with a 4-3 win over the Cats.
Saturday’s victory was the team’s first regulation win since Oct. 7.
After a scoreless opening frame, Mission’s Kyle Mooney put the Outlaws up 1-0 at 7:46, but the Panthers would even the game up before the end of the second with a shorthanded goal.
Port Moody added another goal early in the third to go up 2-1, but Maximillan Corazza and Joshua Martin scored to grab the lead back for Mission. The Panthers tied the game again just two minutes later, but Justin Bowerman tallied on the power play at 10:04 to put the Outlaws up for good and earn the 4-3 win.
Mission goalie Matthew Trulsen was solid in goal, making 41 saves to pick up his fourth win on the season. The Outlaws were outshot 44-21 in the game, and allowed one power play goal while going one for five with the man advantage.
Bowerman said the Outlaws played the right way on Saturday.
“We wanted to win, we had a good effort out there and we didn’t take too many penalties,” he said.
Mission head coach Mike Renner said he thinks his team can still step up their game.
“I think we came out flat tonight. We were flat for the first 40 and flat for the first five minutes of the third and, even though we won tonight, we played far better in the last four games,” he said.
“But we won tonight and that’s a good thing, that’s a bonus. I’m pretty happy with the boys. They all came together in the third and a coach can’t ask for much more than that.”
In other Outlaws news, the club dealt goalie Keaton Dyck and forward Brendan Black to the Langley Trappers in exchange for defenceman Rowan Lougheed. The Victoria native suited up for the Trappers in nine games this season, recording one goal and 27 penalty minutes.
Mission’s record moves to six wins and 11 losses after the weekend, and they remain in fourth place in the Harold Brittain conference. The Outlaws travelled to Aldergrove on Wednesday evening to take on the Grizzlies, but results were not available at press time.
The next home game for the club occurs on Saturday when the Grandview Steelers come to town. Face-off is set for 6:45 p.m. at the MLC.
