The New Westminster Salmonbellies picked up a 14-11 overtime win on Saturday night over the Coquitlam Adanacs to take a 2-1 lead in the WLA championship final.
New Westminster led 8-6 after two periods, but the Adanacs battled back. The Salmonbellies were ahead late in the third when David Charney scored to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In the extra frame, goaltender Frank Scigliano stopped all 10 shots he faced, while Tye Kurtz, Tyler Pace and Haiden Dickson scored for New Westminster to secure the win.
Kurtz and Mitch Jones both had monster nights. Kurtz finished with four goals and seven assists for 11 points, while Jones added a goal and 10 assists for an 11-point effort of his own.
Coquitlam was without a key piece in Game 3, as starter Christian Del Bianco was unavailable. Andrew Gallant got the nod and made 51 saves on 65 shots in a valiant performance.
Game 4 goes Monday at Queen’s Park Arena in New Westminster.
Back-and-Forth First Period
It didn’t take long for New Westminster to strike. Pace scored just 30 seconds in, but Kean Moon answered on the power play at 2:49 to tie the game.
Kurtz restored the Salmonbellies’ lead at 8:29 before the Adanacs responded with a two-goal run.
Adam Noakes scored at 10:04, followed by Moon with his second power-play marker at 15:40 to put Coquitlam ahead 3-2.
Kurtz struck again, unassisted, with 3:30 left to tie the game 3-3 after one.
Big Run Puts Salmonbellies Ahead
The Adanacs grabbed momentum early in the second. Noakes scored 1:20 into the period, and Brian Gillis added another less than two minutes later to make it 5-3.
New Westminster’s offence then erupted with a four-goal run. Will Malcom started it with a power-play goal at 5:17. Just 31 seconds later, Dickson tied the game 5-5.
Jones put the Salmonbellies ahead with another power-play marker at 13:11, and Dickson struck again off a pass from Phil Caputo 46 seconds later for a two-goal cushion.
Brian Simmons set up Jacob Saunders at 16:01 to bring Coquitlam back within one, but Kurtz answered with 2:43 remaining as New Westminster led 8-6 heading to the third.
Adanacs Force Overtime
Coquitlam fought back to tie it in the third. Andrew Bowman scored at 5:31, and Brett McIntyre added another at 8:51 to even things at 8-8.
Will Malcom restored the Salmonbellies’ lead at 9:17, but Moon answered 18 seconds later.
At 12:31, Malcom scored again on the power play, only for Noakes to tie it once more.
Dickson unleashed a rocket with 3:22 left to give New Westminster the go-ahead goal.
The Adanacs pulled Gallant late, and with the extra attacker, Charney buried a rebound with 1:23 left to force overtime.
Salmonbellies Take Series Lead
Much like their first-round series against Victoria, the Salmonbellies dominated the overtime period.
Kurtz scored the game-winner at 3:18, but with a full 10-minute frame to play, New Westminster wasn’t finished.
Pace added a highlight-reel “twister” at 5:30, and Kurtz set up Dickson with 2:21 left to round out the scoring as the Salmonbellies secured a 14-11 victory.
Tye Kurtz gave his thoughts after the game:
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz, 4g 7a
- Mitch Jones, 1g 10a
- Will Malcom, 3g 3a
Coquitlam Adanacs
- Kean Moon, 3g 3a
- James Rahe, 5a
- David Charney, 1g 3a
- Andrew Bowman, 1g 3a
Three Stars
- Mitch Jones, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Kean Moon, Coquitlam Adanacs
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