Shawn Slaght, All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Coquitlam Adanacs cruised to a 16-10 win over the last-place Maple Ridge Burrards on Tuesday night to stay in the first-place hunt in the WLA standings.
With the Victoria Shamrocks winning 15-9 earlier in the evening, the two teams draw even with 11 wins a piece for second place. The Nanaimo Timbermen still hold on to first place with a record of 12-6, but the Shamrocks still have three games to play, while the Adanacs still have two.
Coquitlam rounds out its regular 0season against the Langley Thunder on Wednesday night and the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the final game of the regular season on Aug. 4. Regardless of the outcome, the Adanacs will be heading to the post season.
Meanwhile, the Shamrocks have Langley on Friday night, Maple Ridge on Sunday and finish the regular season with another tilt with Langley on Aug. 3.
As for the Burrards, they are well out of the playoff picture with a 1-15 record.
Adanacs dominate first period
Coquitlam jumped out to a 3-0 lead right out of the gate. Luke Jaber scored at 3:32 on transition with goaltender Christian Del Bianco. Levi Anderson added to the tally at 5:23 and Brett Mcintyre rounded out the three-goal run at 6:20.
Dylan Mcintosh got the Burrards on the board at the 10:09 mark to make it 3-1. Evan Pattison took a holding call at 11:18 for the Adanacs in the lone penalty of the period. Despite being a man down, Dylan Watson would score shorthanded to restore Coquitlam’s three-goal lead.
The Burrards would answer back at 16:24 with a goal from Gabe Procyk, but the guys from Maple Ridge couldn’t sustain any momentum.
Mcintyre scored his second of the game with 1:06 left in the period to make it 5-2 for the Adanacs after one period of play.
Coquitlam continues to pour it on
Will Clayton got on the board for Maple Ridge 45 seconds into the second quarter, but again the Burrards could not follow it up.
Coquitlam extended their lead to 7-3 with Clark Walter finding the back of the net at 2:58 and Jaber scored 29 seconds later. The Burrards bounced back eight seconds later with Gordie Phillips scoring at 3:35 to make it 7-4.
The Adanacs again replied with a two-goal run. First, it was Watson beating Burrards goaltender Gord Bowden at 3:58 and John Hofseth added to the lead at 5:33 to make it 9-4.
Garrett Winter stopped some of the bleeding at 8:40 to get the Burrards back within four. The Adanacs’ Vinny Ricci and Mcintyre added goals at 9:41 and 13:08 respectively to extend Coquitlam’s lead to 11-5.
The Burrards finally sustained some momentum late in the second period. Ryan Jones scored on the power play with 3:30 left in the period and Procyk scored 25 seconds later to cap the two-goal run.
Walter rounded out the scoring with 1:32 left in the period on an individual effort to make the score 12-7 for the Adanacs heading into the final frame.
Adanacs keep their foot on the gas
Knowing the importance of this game when it comes to the standings and the first-place hunt, the Adanacs didn’t let up in the third period.
Walter capitalized on a power play 1:43 into the third period to make it 13-7. Brett Kujala, who has been one of the bright spots for the Burrards this season, potted one at 3:08.
Then the fist began to fly 7:56 into the third. Ricci for Coquitlam and Kevin Reid for the Burrards did some pushing and shoving that warranted them roughing minors. Meanwhile, Reid and Rhys Blake took fighting majors and game misconducts for the Burrards and Clay Miller took a fighting major and game misconduct in the brawl for Coquitlam. In total, 49 minutes in penalties were handed out.
The brawl sparked the Burrards’ offence a bit. Winter scored on the power play at 13:09 and Mitchell Nolet scored unassisted 15 seconds later to make it 14-10.
The Adanacs would finish strong to stay in the first-place hunt as Watson and Jalen Chaster rounded out the scoring.
Top Scorers
Maple Ridge Burrards
Garrett Winter, 2g 5a
Ryan Jones 1g 3a
Colton Porter, 3a
Gabe Procyk, 2g 1a
Coquitlam Adanacs
Clark Walter, 3g 4a
Luke Jaber, 2g 3a
Dylan Watson, 4g 1a
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