With a third-period comeback, the Langley Thunder picked up a 17-10 win Thursday night to take a 2-0 series lead over the Nanaimo Timbermen.
Nanaimo held a 10-9 lead heading into the third period. However, Langley scored eight unanswered goals in the final frame, while Frank Scigliano stopped all 15 shots he faced.
With the win, the Thunder will now have a chance to eliminate Nanaimo on Tuesday night on home floor and punch their ticket to the WLA finals.
Robert Church had a huge night for Langley, scoring six goals and adding six assists for 12 points. Connor Robison finished with five goals and seven points to complement Church.
Timbermen Hold The Edge in The First Period
Nanaimo set the tone early with Ryan Sheridan finding the back of the net 26 seconds into the game.
Robinson replied 2:16 into the frame to tie it up. Colton Lidstone regained the lead for the Timbermen at 7:02 to make it 2-1.
Langley jumped into the lead with a two-goal run 46 seconds apart. Curtis Dickson scored 7:54 into the period followed by Robinson at 8:40 to make it 3-2.
Nanaimo’s offence flexed its muscles with a four-goal run midway through the first. Zach Manns had a pair of goals along with markers from Sheridan and Brett McIntyre as Nanaimo went ahead 6-3.
Church and Robison round out the first-period scoring but the Timbermen held a 6-5 lead heading into the second.
Nanaimo Holds on to Lead
Nate Wade’s unassisted shorthanded goal 5:35 into the second would put Nanaimo up 7-5.
The back-and-forth battle continued with Church and Ethan Ticehurst exchanging goals. Church scored again with 8:47 on the clock but Sheridan replied right back to bake it 9-7 for the Tmen.
Robinson scored a pair of late goals but Taggart Clark scored unassisted with 1:13 on the clock to give Nanaimo a 10-9 lead heading into the final frame.
Thunder Put Timbermen on the Brink of Elimination
It was all Langley in the third period as they outscored Nanaimo 8-0 to finish off the game.
Nathaniel Kozevnikov tied up the game 1:34 into the period and Church gave the Thunder the lead 35 seconds later.
Chase Scanlan scored unassisted for Langley’s third goal in a matter of 1:07.
Church finished the game with two more goals along with markers from Dickson, Dane Dobbie, and Reece Callies to make the final 17-10 and giving Langley a 2-0 series lead.
Three Stars
- Robert Church, Langley Thunder
- Connor Robinson, Langley Thunder
- Ryan Sheridan, Nanaimo Timbermen
Top Scorers
Langley Thunder
Robert Church, 6g 6a
Connor Robinson, 5g 2a
Curtis Dickson, 2g 5a
Nanaimo Timbermen
Brett McIntyre, 1g 3a
Zach Manns, 2g 1a
Jon Phillips, 3a
Ryan Sheridan, 3g
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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.
