The Burnaby Lakers’ Zak Boychuk did his utmost Sunday to get his team two points, but the Lakers’ offence went silent over the final 38 minutes of regulation and 10 more of overtime in a 6-4 setback to the Maple Ridge Burrards.
The best numbers of the day -- unless you were holding a Lotto Max winner -- stood behind netminders Boychuk and Frank Scigliano, who carry hockey-like save percentages after the first few weeks of play in the Western Lacrosse Association.
Boychuk turned aside 46 shots, including all 18 in the middle frame as Burnaby protected a 4-2 lead, before the home team turned the tables.
Although they scored the game’s first three goals, the Lakers fell due to finish, or lack thereof. Eli McLaughlin’s first goal with Burnaby, at 1:17 into the second period, put the visitors ahead 4-2, and apparently in a good position.
Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way.
Maple Ridge scored the game’s final four goals, including twice in overtime, to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
“We got off to a good start and we battled hard but the goalies were the best guys on the floor,” Burnaby head coach Rory McDade said. “We had our chances, we had a powerplay but just couldn’t put one past (Burrards’ Scigliano).”
A pair of markers in the third, with the tying tally coming with eight minutes left in regulation, gave the Burrards the momentum heading into overtime.
In the 10-minute extra period, Maple Ridge’s Spencer Evans put the Lakers in a deficit for the first time in the game at 3:20, followed six minutes later by Aaron Davis’ empty net tally.
Scoring Burnaby’s other goals were Jason Jones, Danny Spagnuolo and Dane Stevens.
The final moments saw tensions boil over as Jesse Fehr, Jones and the Burrards’ Daniel Amesbury and Kevin Reid were tossed for a melee that stopped play with 15 seconds left. All four were tagged with fighting majors and game misconducts.
The Lakers head to Langley in search of their second win, tonight (Wednesday) at the LEC.
