The junior A New Westminster Salmonbellies lost for just the second time this season.
The Delta Islanders proved their first-place ranking is no fluke, following a 9-8 come-frombehind win over the Salmonbellies at Ladner Arena on Saturday.
New Westminster jumped out to a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes, but were brought back to earth in a hurry after the home team rallied to tie the score with barely nine minutes gone in the middle frame.
Anthony Malcom regained the lead for the junior 'Bellies, completing a natural hat trick with his third goal of the game on the short-man.
Brandon Goodwin extended New West's lead to 8-6, but Mike Mallory shaved the deficit to a single goal with a last-second power play goal for Delta.
Mallory then tallied the game-winner, with his second goal of the game late in the third quarter, after teammate Cody Nass tied the score.
Delta goalie Will Schwan stopped 33 shots for the win, including all 10 attempts at goal in the final period.
Frank Scigliano also made 33 saves in the Salmonbellie net.
"When we started, we were spot on - working hard and picking and rolling - but then in the second and third we went away from our game," said Malcom. "Defensively, (Delta) are very good. - It was a real disappointing game. Now they hold the tiebreaker."
Earlier in the month, Delta nipped New West 5-3 at Queen's Park. The second straight loss to the Islanders means that in the event of a tie at the end of the season, Delta would have the advantage.
After the loss, New Westminster lost no time putting the defeat behind them and beating up on the visiting Victoria Shamrocks 12-4 at Queen's Park Arena on Sunday.
The home 'Bellies exploded for seven goals in the last half of the first period, including a hat trick by Ontario transfer Kyle Dobbie.
Keegan Bal also tallied three times in the win, completing his hat with back-to-back markers less than a minute apart midway through the middle frame. Bal led all scorers with an eight-point outing.
Brandon Goodwin and Luke Gillespie both contributed a pair of goals to the team's scoreline.
"We talked about that (before the Victoria game). Now we have that winning mentality again," said Malcom.
