The New Westminster Salmonbellies picked up a huge 12-8 win over the Victoria Shamrocks on Friday night to get back into the race for first place.
New Westminster improves their record to 12-4 and now sits just one point back of Victoria (12-3-1) and the Coquitlam Adanacs (12-2-1), with Coquitlam holding one game in hand. The win also gives New Westminster the season series against Victoria, which could be crucial in a tiebreaker for the race for first place.
The difference Friday night was the third period. Victoria trailed by just one heading into the final frame, but Frank Scigliano stopped all 12 shots he faced as the Salmonbellies outscored their opponent 3-0 down the stretch.
Mitch Jones led the way for the Salmonbellies with two goals and four assists, while Haiden Dickson had two goals and three assists. Tye Kurtz and Jeff Cornwall each finished with a pair of goals.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson dominated the faceoff dot for New Westminster, winning 17 of 23 draws.
For the Shamrocks, Andrew Kew led the team with two goals and three assists, while Zach Manns and Kyle Pepper each scored twice. Chris Origlieri got the start and made 44 saves on 56 shots in the loss.
Salmonbellies Take an Early Edge
New Westminster opened the scoring just 1:46 into the game with a goal from Jones.
Kew tied it up at 5:14, and Pepper gave Victoria the lead on the power play at 7:44.
The Salmonbellies answered with a three-goal run. Noah Armitage tied the game at 12:48, Kurtz gave New West the lead at 13:21 off a feed from Jones, and Jones himself rounded out the run at 18:13 to make it 4-2.
Manns scored with 21 seconds left to close the gap as the Shamrocks trailed 4-3 after one.
Back-and-Forth Second Period
Both teams combined for 10 goals in the second, five apiece. Kew tied it up 1:38 in, and Cole Pickup scored unassisted at 2:50 to put Victoria up 5-4.
Malcom responded at 4:25, and Dickson gave New West the lead again at 5:39. Pepper struck back less than a minute later at 6:31 to make it 6-6, but Cornwall scored off a Malcom feed at 7:07.
Clarke Petterson tied it again at 11:26, but Cornwall’s shorthanded marker at 14:34 and Dickson’s goal at 17:51 put the ‘Bellies up 9-7.
Manns scored his second with 51 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 9-8 after two.
All Salmonbellies in the Third
The Shamrocks were blanked in the third as New Westminster outscored them 3-0.
Phil Caputo scored on the power play just 29 seconds in to make it 10-8. Ducommun added another at 10:43, and Kurtz sealed the 12-8 victory at 15:34, keeping the Salmonbellies firmly in the race for first place.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Mitch Jones: 2G, 4A
- Haiden Dickson: 2G, 3A
- Tye Kurtz: 2G, 3A
- Phil Caputo: 1G, 4A
- Will Malcom: 1G, 4A
Victoria Shamrocks
- Andrew Kew: 2G, 3A
- Clarke Petterson: 1G, 3A
- Zach Manns: 2G, 1A
Three Stars
- Mitch Jones, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Andrew Kew, Victoria Shamrocks
- Haiden Dickson, New Westminster Salmonbellies
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
