Sometimes an 8-0 loss can be a good thing. Look at the Port Moody Black Panthers.
After getting blasted by a touchdown plus a two-point convert by the Delta Ice Hawks, the Cats mashed the Mission Icebreakers 7-3 last Thursday and followed it with a gritty 5-4 win Saturday over the Abbotsford Pilots at the PoMo Rec Complex.
The Pacific International Jr. 'B' hockey league results boosted the Cats to 9-13-4-1 and marked their third victory in four games amid a head coaching change that saw Craig Sherbaty depart and James Strang take over.
"We had some hard conversations the last 10 days," said Black Panthers general manager Ron Luniw. "I think we finally hit home here. We changed the whole make-up of the way we do things."
Against Mission, the Cats bolted to a 4-0 lead by the midway point of the game and fired in three unanswered third-period goals after the Icebreakers narrowed the margin to 4-3 before the second period expired.
Martin Campbell rallied the Cats with three goals and one assist. Other PoMo marksmen were Sheldon Vannerus and Mico Dragutinovic, with a goal and one helper apiece, along with Trevor Kang and Coleman Foley.
Mark Menicucci picked up the win in net with 24 saves.
Versus Abby, the Cats stormed back from a 4-1 deficit in the second period and skated to a one-goal win thanks to a Taylor Young tally with just 34 ticks remaining.
Trevor Kang netted two goals and added one assist for the Cats, who got another three-point outing on a goal and two helpers from Julian Klaric. Young and Rino Minni also scored for PoMo, while Dragutinovic, Campbell and Cam Patterson collected two assists apiece.
The Cats visit the Aldergrove Kodiaks tonight (Wednesday) and don't return home until Dec. 30 when they host the North Vancouver Wolf Pack at PoMo Rec Complex, 7:45 p.m.
EXPRESS POWER ON
Coquitlam Express steamed into the holiday break Friday by running over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2 in a B.C. Hockey League game in front of 709 fans at Poirier Sports Complex.
The 16-12-2-2 Express raced to period leads of 2-0 and 7-2, with Brady Shaw and Malcolm McKinney leading the way with three goals apiece.
John Siemer and Dante Godhio also scored, while Alex Petan had four assists.
The Jr 'A' Express return to action Dec. 29 versus the Powell River Kings at Poirier, 7 p.m.
