For the second straight game overtime was needed; but this time it was the 91原创 Thunder emerging victorious thanks to a 6-5 win, evening the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Thunder held off the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Tuesday night at 91原创 Events Centre in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series with Chase Scanlan鈥檚 goal at 8:58 of the 10-minute overtime period serving as the winner.
鈥淚 have to give credit to my teammates for getting me open,鈥� Scanlan said, referencing Nathaniel Kozevnikov setting a nice seal which gave him the open space. 鈥淚 just saw a perfect lane to take that shot far side and found my spot.鈥�
New Westminster forced the extra period when Will Malcom scored with less than 18 seconds to play, tying the game at five. Kevin Crowley then gave the Bellies their first lead of the night at the 1:24 mark of overtime before Dylan Kinnear scored at 5:18, setting the stage for Scanlan鈥檚 heroics.
In Game 3 two nights earlier, the Thunder tied the game with less than two seconds to play and then took an early lead before New Westminster tied the score and then won the game in sudden-death overtime winner.
鈥淲e did that last game, and the message was they came back and beat us; it is our turn to do that,鈥� said 91原创 coach Curt Malawsky about the message to his players as they awaited the overtime period.
鈥淵ou can drag your lip around and pout about what happened and some of the goals, but you man up and play for the guy next to you. Keep grinding forward for the next 10 minutes and that is what the guys did, and we got the result.鈥�
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鈥淭hat is just old-fashioned heart; a team that is not willing to quit. They just want to keep battling,鈥� he added.
Goals were hard to come by in Game 4 with Clay Scanlan 鈥� the game鈥檚 third star 鈥� the only player to score more than once as he tallied twice to lead the Thunder. Chase Scanlan, Connor Robinson and Dane Dobbie each finished with a goal and an assist with Kinnear scoring the other goal. Curtis Dickson and Robert Church both finished with three assists.
In goal, Frank Scigliano was the first star following a 41-save performance. His counterpart, Zach Higgins was the second star with 40 saves. Crowley, Keegan Bal and Haiden Dickson each scored once and set up a goal with Malcom and Brett Mydske chipping in with a goal apiece.
Game 5 of the series is set for Thursday, Aug. 24 at New Westminster鈥檚 Queen鈥檚 Park Arena before the WLA championship returns to 91原创 Events Centre on Saturday, Aug, 26. Both games begin at 7:30pm.
Malawsky said the teams will rest, watch film and make the necessary adjustments as they both vie for the WLA title.
鈥淚t has been a heck of a series, great for BC Lacrosse and the WLA. I liked how it was refereed and I liked the great crowd. It is two great evenly matched teams and should be an exciting best-of-three,鈥� he said.
