The Maple Ridge Burrards picked up a 10–7 win on Sunday night to dash the Nanaimo Timbermen’s playoff hopes.
With the win, the Burrards move into sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot at 5-7-2 with four games remaining. They are two points ahead of the Langley Thunder in fifth and four points up on the sixth-place Burnaby Lakers.
The Timbermen fall to 2–14 and have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Sunday night was a familiar story for the Timbermen—they got out to a lead but couldn’t hold it. The game was tied 3–3 after the first period, and Nanaimo went ahead 7–6 after two. However, they managed just six shots on goal in the third, all of which were stopped by Burrards goaltender Brandon Humphrey, while Maple Ridge scored four unanswered goals to seal the win.
Nanaimo’s offence came from just three players. Luke Pilcher had a hat trick, while Thomas Vaesen and Ryan Sheridan each scored twice. Noah Manning chipped in with three assists. Colby Bowman got the start in goal for the Timbermen and stopped 42 of 52 shots in the loss.
For Maple Ridge, Marcus Klarich led the way with four goals and an assist. Drew Andre and Dagan Carlson each added two goals and one assist. Humphrey faced 47 shots and stopped 40.
Back-and-Forth First Period
The two teams traded goals in a high-paced opening frame. Garret Winter opened the scoring three minutes into the game. Klarich made it 2–0 for Maple Ridge at 5:29.
Nanaimo replied to tie the game. Vaesen scored at 6:15, followed by Pilcher on the power play at 11:48.
Klarich regained the lead for the Burrards with a power-play goal at 14:14 off a feed from Ryan Jones.
Sheridan rounded out the first-period scoring with a power-play goal at 17:06 as the teams went into the break tied 3–3.
Nanaimo Takes the Lead After Two
Maple Ridge reclaimed the lead early in the second period. Carlson beat Bowman on a solo effort at 4:09.
Pilcher tied it just 33 seconds later, then scored unassisted at 6:08 to give Nanaimo a 5–4 lead.
Only 28 seconds later, Andre converted a pass from Ryan Jones to tie the game 5–5.
Vaesen gave Nanaimo the lead again with a power-play goal at 10:54, but Klarich answered with a power-play goal of his own at 11:41.
Sheridan scored on the power play with 6:19 left in the frame, giving the Timbermen a 7–6 lead heading into the third as they looked to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Timbermen Shut Out in the Third
Once again, Nanaimo couldn’t hold their lead. Their offence was shut down in the third, mustering only six shots—all stopped by Humphrey—as Maple Ridge scored four unanswered goals.
Andre tied the game 7–7 with a goal at 7:52, followed by Carlson at 11:08 to give the Burrards an 8–7 lead.
Klarich added an insurance marker with two minutes remaining, and Kaden Doughty sealed the win with an unassisted goal at 18:50 to make it 10–7, officially ending the Timbermen’s playoff hopes.
Top Scorers
Maple Ridge Burrards
- Marcus Klarich: 4G, 1A
- Drew Andre: 2G, 1A
- Dagan Carlson: 2G, 1A
Nanaimo Timbermen
- Thomas Vaesen: 2G, 2A
- Ryan Sheridan: 2G, 1A
- Noah Manning: 3A
- Luke Pilcher: 3G
Three Stars
- Marcus Klarich, Maple Ridge Burrards
- Luke Pilcher, Nanaimo Timbermen
- Dagan Carlson, Maple Ridge Burrards
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