The Nanaimo Timbermen would stun the Langley Thunder 10-9 with Ethan Ticehurst scoring the game-winner in overtime on Wednesday night.
The loss ends up being a crucial one for Langley. They drop down to second place in the WLA standing with a record of 11-3, while the New Westminster Salmonbellies lead with a record of 11-2.
This was the fifth straight win of the Timbermen as they make a late-season charge. They are solidly in third place at 9-4 ahead of the fourth place Victoria Shamrocks.
It was a total team effort by Nanaimo as 10 different players picked up points and no one had more than two goals. Devlin Shanahan was sharp in net for the Timbermen, stopping 43 of 52 shots for the win.
On the other side of the floor, Frank Scigliano saw a lot of rubber as he stopped 46 of 55 shots.
Timbermen grab slim first-period lead
Brett McIntyre got Nanaimo on the board first, 1:54 into the first period. Ryan Sheridan scored unassisted 27 seconds later as the Timberment went up 2-0.
Langley got on the board 3:14 into the period off a goal from Jake Bowen, but Zach Manns continued to strong season with a marker at 8:23.
The Thunder would go on a three-goal run late in the period to take a 4-3 lead. Chase Scanlan scored a pair of goals along with a marker from Dane Dobbie.
With 3:36 left, Nathan Grenon tied up the game. A transition goal from Adam Wiedemann gave Nanaimo a 5-4 lead heading into the second period.
Langley regains the lead
The Langley Thunder would battle back in the second period. Tristan Kirkham would bury a pass from Jake Boudreau 2:22 into the period to tie up the game.
Nanaimo retook the lead 6:06 later with a goal from Taggart Clark. However, goals from Clay Scanlan and Curtis Dickson gave Langley a 7-6 advantage heading into the third period.
Nanaimo ties it late, then wins it in overtime
Jon Phillips took a feed from Manns and scored 2:27 into the third period as Nanaimo once again knotted up the game 7-7.
The Timbermen would take the lead 1:16 later off a goal from Sheridan with Phillips picking up an assist on the play.
Nathaniel Kozevnikov found the back of the net for Langley at 9:56 before Dobbie put Langley ahead 9-8 with 3:13 left in the game.
Dying to find the equalizer, Nanaimo pulled Shanahan for the extra attacker. It worked as Grenon tied the game 9-9 with 28 seconds on the clock to send it to overtime.
Only 43 seconds into the overtime period, Ethan Ticehurst went coast-to-coast to score the game-winner to stun the Langley Thunder.
Three Stars
- Chase Scanlan, Langley Thunder
- Ryan Sheridan, Nanaimo Timbermen
- Curtis Dickson, Langley Thunder
Top Scorers
Nanaimo Timbermen
Ryan Sheridan, 2g 1a
Zach Manns, 1g 2a
Jon Phillips, 1g 2a
Taggart Clark 1g 2a
Langley Thunder
Curtis Dickson, 1g 4a
Chase Scanlan, 2g 3a
Dane Dobbie, 2g 2g
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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.
