Napping can have therapeutic benefits, but not if you’re playing lacrosse.
The Burnaby Lakers went to sleep for a two-minute span in the third period and it cost them an 8-7 loss to the visiting Langley Thunder in Western Lacrosse Association play on Tuesday.
Leading 6-3 after 40 minutes and playing some of its soundest defence at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre this season, Burnaby looked poised for a W midway through the period, when Scott Jones tallied his hat-trick goal on a power play at the seven-minute mark of the frame.
But, the Burnaby NOW’s early season pick for WLA rookie of the year - Anthony Malcom - sparked the three-goal mini run less than two minutes later with his second goal of the game on a nifty cut to the net.
Alex Turner tied the score less than a minute later and Patrick Saunders got the game winner midway through the period on a long shot from the left side on Lakers goalie Tye Belanger.
“We don’t have a young team, so there are no excuses there. We just couldn’t hold them off in the end,” said Burnaby captain Bryan Safarik. “We definitely had our chance. … We don’t make three mental mistakes and it’s probably our game.”
Burnaby took a 3-1 lead with three goals in the final four minutes of the opening period, including a pair by Jackson Decker, who appears to be more comfortable joining the attack more often.
The two teams exchanged three goals apiece in the middle stanza in the evenly played contest.
Langley’s Kyle Belton momentarily tied the game 4-4 with an unassisted tally on a transition counter.
A minute later, Jason Jones, who shared a game-high five-point night with teammate Scott Jones, regained the lead for the home team.
Belanger could not be faulted for the loss, backstopping Burnaby with a .822 save percentage, while kicking out 37 Thunder shots in goal.
Brodie MacDonald had 36 stops in the Langley cage.
The loss left Burnaby in a tie for third place with the Thunder - both with identical 5-5-0 records.
However, the win gave Langley the all-important season series over the Lakers.
With the two teams trailing second-place New Westminster by four points at the midway mark of the season, Friday’s home tilt against the Salmonbellies takes on a very real significance.
A win over the ’Bellies would give Burnaby that series advantage.
“It’s a challenge right now. We win Friday and it’s back to a log jam,” said Safarik.
Game time for Friday’s fixture is 7:45 p.m.
Burnaby also has an important league matchup on its usual home night on Tuesday, when it meets the first-place Victoria Shamrocks at the Bill Copeland centre on July 7. Game time is 7 p.m.
