The Maple Ridge Burrards traveled to the Coquitlam Sports Centre Wednesday night for Game 3 of their best-of-five WLA first round playoff series against the Coquitlam Adanacs. Coquitlam held a 2-0 series lead and were looking to sweep. However, a late third period rally lifted the Burrards to a 9-7 victory, avoiding elimination. Coquitlam leads the series 2-1; Game 4 is Friday night in Maple Ridge.
Four lead changes in the first two periods
Jalen Chaster opened the scoring for the Adanacs (3:17), but Dagan Carlson replied for the Burrards less than a minute later (4:15). Dennon Armstrong (4:56) and Chaster’s second (8:15) put Coquitlam up 3-1 before Maple Ridge went on a three-goal run into the second period, starting with Riley Loewen (12:20). Markers from Kaden Doughty (7:35 second period) and Marcus Klarich (13:09 power play) gave the Burrards a 4-3 lead. James Rahe (14:02) and Clark Walter (14:53) scored less than a minute apart to put Coquitlam back on top, 5-4. However, a late goal from Dylan McIntosh (17:46) tied the game at 5-5 going into the third period.
Burrards rally in third period to avoid elimination
The Adanacs broke the tie when Kean Moon scored (2:59), then Chaster scored his hat rick goal (8:23 power play) for a 7-5 lead. However, the Burrards rallied in dramatic fashion, scoring four unanswered goals in a roughly six-minute span. Rhys Porteous (10:02) and Declan Fitzpatrick (10:27) scored 25 seconds apart to tie the game at 7-7. McIntosh scored his second on a power play (11:08), then Carlson followed with his second (15:54), also on a power play, for a 9-7 lead. Coquitlam was unable to reply, and will try again to punch their ticket to the WLA Finals on Friday night.
Klarich (1g, 4a) was named 1st Star of the Game for Maple Ridge, and Burrards goaltender Brandon Humphrey (41 saves) earned 3rd Star honors. Chaster received 2nd Star for the Adanacs with his performance (3g, 1a). Christian Del Bianco made 35 saves for Coquitlam in the loss. Coquitlam outshot Maple Ridge 48-44, but Burrards faceoff man Reese Barnes went 12 for 19 at the dot.
