Marcus Klarich scored five goals but it wasn’t enough as the Maple Ridge Burrards dropped a 12-10 decision to New Westminster Salmonbellies in WLA action on Sunday night.
New Westminster led 10-6 early in the third period, but Maple Ridge responded with a four-goal run to tie the game with just 2:16 remaining. Tyler Pace scored the game-winner with 1:53 left. Brandon Goodwin added an insurance goal 35 seconds later to seal the win for the ‘Bellies.
Pace led the Salmonbellies with five points on one goal and four assists, followed by four-point performances from both Goodwin and Haiden Dickson. In goal, Justin Geddie stopped 36 of 46 shots to earn the win.
For Maple Ridge, Marcus Klarich scored five of the Burrards’ 10 goals, while Ryan Jones recorded six assists. Goaltender Brandon Humphrey faced a barrage of shots, stopping 50 of 62 in the loss.
Back-and-Forth First Period
The Salmonbellies jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two early power-play goals.
Will Malcom opened the scoring two minutes into the game, followed by Jeff Cornwall converting a feed from Goodwin at 6:17.
Maple Ridge fought back to even the score. Declan Fitzpatrick got the Burrards on the board at 9:47, and Klarich tied it 2-2 on the power play off a pass from Jones with 4:39 left in the period.
Salmonbellies Edge Ahead in the Second
Rhys Porteous opened the second-period scoring at 2:57, capping a three-goal run for the Burrards and giving them a 3-2 lead.
Haiden Dickson tied it back up 3-3 with a goal at 6:23, but Ethan M’Lot responded just over a minute later to restore the Burrards’ lead.
The Salmonbellies answered with back-to-back goals. Ben Soenen tied the game at 8:39, and Dickson struck again at 9:27 to give New Westminster the lead.
Klarich scored again at 12:48 to tie it, but Dickson completed his hat trick at 14:15 to reclaim the lead for the ‘Bellies.
Klarich notched a power-play goal with 3:01 left, but Mitch Jones responded with a goal with the extra attacker on at 1:36, giving New Westminster a 7-6 lead heading into the third.
Salmonbellies Hold On to Remain Undefeated
New Westminster opened the third period with three straight goals. Mitch Jones scored 33 seconds in on the power play, followed by Goodwin at 4:12 off a feed from Jeff Henrick. Henrick then scored himself at 6:44 to make it 10-6.
The Burrards mounted a comeback with four unanswered goals. Kaden Doughty scored off a pass from Brayden Laity at 7:02, followed by a power-play goal from Klarich at 8:07. Fitzpatrick added an even-strength goal at 13:55, and Klarich tied the game 10-10 with 2:16 remaining.
But the Salmonbellies held on. Pace scored the game-winner at 1:53, and Goodwin iced the game with an unassisted goal at 1:18 to secure the 12-10 victory.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tyler Pace: 1G, 4A
- Brandon Goodwin: 2G, 2A
- Haiden Dickson: 3G, 1A
Maple Ridge Burrards
- Ryan Jones: 6A
- Marcus Klarich: 5G, 1A
- Garret Winter: 3A
Three Stars
- Brandon Goodwin, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Marcus Klarich, Maple Ridge Burrards
- Haiden Dickson, New Westminster Salmonbellies
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET
