The Maple Ridge Burrards nearly pulled off a comeback, but a late charge by Nanaimo was the difference in a 14-10 win for the Timbermen on Sunday night.
The Burrards found themselves down 9-6 heading into the third period. They were able to tie up the game, but a four-goal run late in the third led to Maple Ridge’s fifth loss of the season.
Charles Claxton was dynamite between the pipes for the Timbermen. He faced 63 shots, but still came away with the victory. Faceoffs were split down the middle. Gordie Phillips went 14 for 26 on draws of the Burrards, while David Byrne was 12 for 27.
Timbermen jump out to a big lead early
Nanaimo outscored the struggling Burrards 6-1 to take a commanding lead to start the game.
Taggart Clark, Coady Adamson, Evan Messenger and Jon Phillips started off the scoring to put the Timbermen ahead 4-0.
Will Clayton finally got the Burrards on the board at the 13:44 mark. However, the Timbermen just kept coming with goals from Zach Manns and Jerome Thompson.
Burrards narrow the gap
Down by five goals, the Burrards started to chip away at the Timbermen’s lead.
Maple Ridge opened the second period with a three-goal run. Clayton, Matt Mckee and Brett Kujala found the back of the net to make the score 6-4.
Zach Manns would score a pair to extend the Timbermen’s lead. Dennon Armstrong for the Burrards and Teioshontateh McComber for Nanaimo would exchange goals to make it 9-5. Clayton would round out the scoring with 53 seconds left to make it 9-6 for the Timbermen heading into the final frame.
Timbermen let large lead slip away
Thirty-three seconds into the third period, Kujala would score, and he’d add another at 5:10 on the power play to make it 9-8.
Gabe Procyk scored at 8:25 for Maple Ridge to tie the game. The five-goal lead that the Timbermen once had was now slipping away.
At 9:51, Messenger took a holding penalty that the Burrards’ Mitch McDole took exception to. McDole and Kris Veltman were also sent off for roughing penalties, putting the Burrards on the power play. However, Jerrett Smith put the Timbermen ahead 10-9 shorthanded at 11:06.
Armstrong replied 30 seconds later on the power play to tie the game up at 10 with 8:24 left to play in regulation.
Nanaimo’s offence exploded with a late charge to end the game. Manns scored the game-winner at 14:03 and McComber had the insurance goal at 15:25.
For good measure, Colton Lidstone and Will Johansen added markers for Nanaimo to round a four-goal run for Nanaimo to end the game.
Three Stars
- Taggart Clark, Nanaimo Timbermen
- Dennon Armstrong, Maple Ridge Burrards
- Zach Manns, Nanaimo Timbermen
Top Scorers
Nanaimo Timbermen
Taggart Clark, 1g 5a
Zach Manns, 4g 1a
Teioshontateh McComber, 2g 2a
Coady Adamson, 1g 3a
Maple Ridge Burrards
Dennon Armstrong, 2g 4a
Brett Kujala, 3g 1a
Will Clayton, 3g 1a
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