The Coquitlam Adanacs would hold on for a 12-11 win over the Langley Thunder on Saturday night.
Coquitlam led by three goals in the third period, but the Thunder replied with two late goals and couldn’t find the equalizer.
The win moves the Adanacs back into first place in the WLA standings with a record of 13-2-1 as they look to hold on to first place. They sit two points ahead of the Victoria Shamrocks and three ahead of the New Westminster Salmonbellies. However, both Victoria and New Westminster have a game in hand.
As for Langley’s playoff hopes, they remain two points back of the Maple Ridge Burrards fourth and final playoff spot, with two games left in the regular season.
Big First Period for the Coquitlam Adanacs
The Adanacs got off to a quick start, taking a 5-3 lead after the opening period.
Kyle Brunsch opened the scoring for Langley just 1:20 into the game with an extra attacker on the floor.
Coquitlam responded with a four-goal run. Dennon Armstrong started it at 4:44, and Matthew Delmonico gave the Adanacs a 2-1 lead at 11:44.
James Rahe scored his first of four goals at 14:20, and Kean Moon capped the run at 15:38.
Chase Scanlan stopped the bleeding for Langley at 16:47 to make it 4-2, but David Charney restored the three-goal cushion at 17:17.
Connor Robinson scored on the power play with four seconds left, cutting the deficit to 5-3 after 20 minutes.
Back-and-Forth Second Period
Tyson Kirkness opened the second-period scoring with a penalty shot goal to restore Coquitlam’s three-goal lead.
Langley answered just six seconds later as Hudson (Finn) Halladay set up Kordell Primus to make it 6-4.
The rest of the period remained scoreless until Charney struck on the power play at 18:11, making it 7-4. Robinson then replied for Langley with 18 seconds left to bring the score to 7-5 heading into the third.
Langley’s Comeback Falls Short
Coquitlam extended its lead early in the third. Rahe scored 1:12 into the frame, followed by an unassisted marker from Kirkness at 2:48 to make it 9-5.
Langley closed the gap quickly. Scanlan scored at 4:22, and Primus added another just five seconds later to make it 9-7.
Rahe struck again on the power play at 5:13 to make it 10-7, but Scanlan replied with two more goals at 7:26 and 10:17, cutting the lead to 10-9.
Coquitlam then went on a two-goal run. Rahe scored his fourth of the night on the power play at 10:40, and Brian Gillis made it 12-9 at 13:17.
Langley mounted one last push. Finn scored with 5:21 left, and Ethan M’Lot added another with the extra attacker and 55 seconds remaining. But the Thunder couldn’t find the equalizer as the Adanacs would hold on for the 12-11 victory.
Top Scorers
Coquitlam Adanacs
- James Rahe: 4G, 1A
- David Charney: 2G, 3A
- Adam Noakes: 5A
Langley Thunder
- Chase Scanlan: 4G, 2A
- Connor Robinson: 2G, 4A
- Ethan M’Lot: 1G, 5A
Three Stars
- James Rahe – Coquitlam Adanacs
- Chase Scanlan – Langley Thunder
- Tyson Kirkness – Coquitlam Adanacs
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