Salmonbellies Top Burrards To Snap Two-Game Skid

Picture of "Muffler" Mike Kostiuk

"Muffler" Mike Kostiuk

"Muffler" Mike Kostiuk was formally introduced to box lacrosse when he attended a New England Black Wolves game on a whim in 2016. Instantly hooked, he has since become an avid follower of the National Lacrosse League. Following the postponement of the 2019-2020 NLL season, he was offered the chance to share his wealth of statistical knowledge and unique insights with the lacrosse community at large. He cheerfully accepted, and covers NLL, PLL, WLA, and Major Series Lacrosse for the network.
Salmonbellies
Photo Credit: Maple Ridge Burrards/Twitter

The New Westminster Salmonbellies hosted the Maple Ridge Burrards at Queens Park Arena Thursday night in Week 7 WLA action. After an 8-0 start to the season, New Westminster suffered back to back losses to rivals Victoria and Coquitlam. Meanwhile, the Burrards came in winners of three straight, having overtaken Langley for the fourth and final playoff seeding. Haiden Dickson and Mitch Jones had big games for the Salmonbellies as they triumphed 10-6 to snap their two-game skid and improve to 9-2 (18 points; second place in the WLA standings). Maple Ridge falls to 4-6-2 with the loss, opening the door for Langley to climb back into fourth place with a win later this weekend against Nanaimo.

Salmonbellies

Dickson, Jones keep Salmonbellies ahead after two periods

The Salmonbellies took a 2-0 lead on goals from Dickson (0:19) and Jones (2:49). Marcus Klarich got Maple Ridge on the board at 3:18, before Dickson scored his second (8:28) to restore New Westminster’s two-goal lead after the first period. Noah Armitage (0:52) quickly pushed the lead to three to start the second period. The Burrards rallied, with Kaden Doughty (5:55) and Dylan McIntosh (6:25) scoring 30 seconds apart to cut the lead to 4-3. However, Dickson (11:54) and Jones (19:15) struck again to give the Salmonbellies a 6-3 edge going into the third period.

New Westminster holds off Maple Ridge to snap two-game skid

Klarich scored a power play goal (7:50 third period), then assisted Rhys Porteous (8:58) to narrow the margin to 6-5. Once again, Dickson (9:46 power play) and Jones (15:31) had an answer for the Salmonbellies to keep the Burrards from tying the game. Riley Loewen (17:13) scored with an extra attacker on the floor for Maple Ridge. But New Westminster got a pair of empty-net goals from Ryan Martel (19:17) and Zac Masson (19:59) in the final minute of regulation to ice the game.

Jones (3g, 3a) was named 1st Star of the Game for the Salmonbellies, while goaltender Frank Scigliano (46 saves on 52 shots) took 2nd Star. Klarich (2g, 2a) took 3rd Star honors for Maple Ridge. The Burrards host Burnaby next Tuesday, then play at Nanaimo on Sunday 7/13. New Westminster gets an all-important rematch with Coquitlam this Saturday, then has a pair of away games (at Coquitlam, at Burnaby) Thursday 7/10 and Friday 7/11.

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