Shawn Slaght, All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge Of Philly Sports Network
It took some third period heroics, but the Langley Thunder picked up a crucial 8-6 win over the Burnaby Lakers on Wednesday night in WLA action in Langley.
Both teams came into the contest with three wins apiece as they battled for fourth place in the standings.
The Thunder gained some firepower before this game. Connor Robinson was added to the line up, fresh off his NLL Cup victory with the Colorado Mammoth.
This game was a bit of a goaltender’s duel. Frank Scigliano stopped 35 of 41 shots for the win. On the other side of the floor, Zak Boychuk stopped 41 of 48 shots in the loss.
This game also included the bizarre. Scigliano took a penalty in the third period for illegal equipment. As the whistle sounded to end the game, fists began to fly. Dalton Lupul and Preston Lupul were called for roughing for the Thunder, while James Rahe and James Kelly took roughing calls for Burnaby.
Thunder takes early lead
Pearson Willis opened the scoring for the Lakers 1:59 into the game on only the second shot of the game for Burnaby. Curtis Dickson replied right back at 2:57 to make it 1-1.
Toron Eccleston took a feed from Willis at 3:26 to regain the lead for Burnaby. However, a two-goal run by the Thunder would give them their first lead of the game.
First, Dickson would find the back of the net at 5:23. Robinson would add another at 8:39 to give Langley a 3-2 advantage.
Laszlo Henning tied up the game 3-3 with 8:01 left to play in the period, but a shorthanded marker by Erik Maas with 5:23 left in the period put Langley up 4-3 at the break.
Lakers even it up
Eccleston opened the second period scoring 1:17 into the frame to even up the score 4-4.
Langley restored its two-goal lead with goals from Dickson and Maas.
Then the Thunder found themselves in penalty trouble. At 9:25, Aaron Skye took a slashing call and Cal Slade was also called for roughing, putting the Thunder two men down.
The Lakers would capitalize with Eccleston’s hat trick goal at 10:06.
Reece Callies would then take a slashing penalty at 16:45. Only 17 seconds into the power play Zach Gould would tie up the game. It was knotted 6-6 coming home.
Thunder win it in the third
Scigliano came up huge for Thunder in the third period. He stopped all 11 shots he faced to pitch a shutout and gave his team a chance to win.
Keegan White took a holding penalty for the Lakers at 10:36. Nineteen seconds later, Dickson capitalized for the eventual game-winner.
Thomas Vaesen capped off the third period heroics at 12:01.
Three Stars
- Curtis Dickson, Langley Thunder
- Toron Eccleston, Burnaby Lakers
- Trent Kellner, Langley Thunder
Top Scorers
Langley Thunder
Curtis Dickson, 4g 2a
Thomas Vaesen, 1g 2a
Erik Maas, 2g
Robert Church, 2a
Chase Scanlan, 2a
Burnaby Lakers
Laszlo Henning, 1g 3a
Toron Eccleston, 3g 1a
Zach Gould, 1g 1a
James Rahe, 2a
Pearson Willis, 1g 1a
Shawn Slaght has been a sports reporter across the Canadian prairies for over 10 years and has experience covering everything from junior hockey to World Cup skiing to all levels of lacrosse. He is the Saskatchewan correspondent for All Lacrosse All The Time.
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